After winning a Kew Gardens National Competition to create wildflower landscapes, both Manchester and Liverpool are now awash with colour, thanks to the National Wildflower Centre and partners including National Trust and Southway Housing.

At the event in Liverpool, many people and artists gathered to celebrate the hard work done so far with music, poetry and lots of fun!

Derelict and paved areas of Everton Park have been transformed with inspiring wildflower displays, some marking iconic demolished streets. Previous residents attended the event to hear host Ken Rogers deliver a nostalgic speech about the region's past.

The main stage hosted a variety of acts and a huge marquee was home to a number of healthy food stalls, including a smoothie bike.

Dancing bees entertained the crowds and lots of stunning art was on display, including pottery houses made by artist Caroline Tattersall and members of Millstead School.

Lemn Sissay, renowned Poet and newly elected Chancellor of Manchester University, also spoke of the importance of embracing positive change, adaptation and the resilience of good people!

The Manchester team from A Tale of Two Cities were out in force to support their sister-site and were handing out seed growing kits to attendees.

Members of Venture Arts and Manchester Friends of the Earth (MFoE) also came over for the day to join in the fun. Damian Cross from MFoE says he was, ‘fortunate enough to attend...I had a great time seeing the wildflowers and learning about the local history’.

As well as physically changing local communities, the project also hopes to redefine wildflower best practice through educational activities.

Landlife Senior Project Manager and Tale of Two Cities Manager Richard Scott has been providing educational workshops at the National Wildflower Centre in Liverpool. Schools including Old Moat, Rolls Cresent and Divine Mercy were invited to learn about how to identify wildflowers and why they are so important.

Apprentices from Neighbourhood Delivery Team also enjoyed the delights of the National Wildflower Centre and Everton Park. Operations Manger Debbie Holt was very pleased that they learnt about land mangement for wildflowers - the apprentices will now have the opportunity to help maintain the sites in Manchester in the future. 

Princess Parkway and the Hulme Subway are now alive with colour from hundreds of poppies and cornflowers. "The feedback already has been incredible, especially regarding Princess Parkway," said Dave Barlow from Manchester City Council. "One Manchester resident has told me the flowers make her smile every day when she goes into work!’

The Project will continue to use widlflowers and creative conservation to bring communities together and help link people to places.

There will be opportunities to get involved in wild flower seeding events in Hulme park and Alexandra Park in September this year. To find out more, please contact Stephanie Lynch via stephgrowwilduk@gmail.com or head the National Wildflower website for more information.