A popular wildflower planting scheme is once again bringing a burst of colour to roadsides across County Durham.
Various species of wildflowers and herbaceous plants have been sown on roundabouts and verges around the area as part of the Durham County Council initiative.
As well as offering an eye-catching display, the flowers also provide a home for various species of wildlife.
The council’s clean and green teams have been encouraging the wildflowers since 2015, with the eye-catching creations drawing praise from residents and visitors to the county.
Cllr Brian Stephens, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “Our wildflower displays always receive an overwhelming amount of praise from residents and visitors who enjoy the burst of colour they bring to our roadsides and roundabouts.
“As well as being attractive, the flowers provide a perfect habitat for precious pollinators such as bees and butterflies and even help us to reduce our maintenance costs.”
The wildflowers can be seen at 20 locations around the county, including the A19 roundabout at Peterlee, Chester-le-street bypass, Spennymoor bypass, the Peth Lane/Edge Lane junction at Burnhope, and the walled garden area next to St Mary’s Church in Middleton-in-Teesdale. A full list of locations is available at: www.durham.gov.uk/wildflowers
This year, the council is also trialling a new multi-bulb planting scheme, which involves planting different types of bulb in the same location in order to achieve a more constant flowering over a longer period.
Three different bulb mixes have been used including one which sees daffodils flowering first, leading to alliums and then camassias. This style of planting is something the authority is looking at exploring further in future years as not only is it sustainable but it gives a longer-lasting floral display.
The flowers will provide a welcome to Britain in Bloom judges, when they visit Durham city next week for judging for the annual competition.
This year, Durham City is competing in the Champion of Champions category in the annual Royal Horticultural Society competition.