How to Make a Mini Meadow from a Candle Jar

 

Our planet is always changing, though not always for the better. We’re all aware of the headline-grabbing effects of climate change across the globe, from wild-fires and hurricanes to flash-floods and droughts, but closer to home the UK’s ancient habitats are in danger too.

In the last 100 years, 97% of the country’s wildflower meadows have been lost! But you can do your bit to help restore Britain’s countryside and help endangered species thrive. Just follow the below 5 simple steps on how to make your own mini meadow from a candle jar!

Why Are Meadows Important?

Meadows are the perfect places for pollinators, like bees and butterflies, to go about their busy lives. They help prevent floods and store carbon, as well as helping create healthier animals and food.

What Can You Do to Help?

Old or young, we’ve all longed for summer days in the sunshine, when the days are long, the skies are blue and grass is lush and green. Birds chirp in blossoming trees while bees buzz about the wild flowers.

But this picture of perfection is in danger of becoming a thing of the past; for many it’s already a distant memory. According to the charity Plantlife, meadows and other species-rich grasslands now cover less than 1% of the UK.

Which is why Botanica by Air Wick has joined forces with WWF to #BringNatureBack: an initiative to restore 20 million sq ft of wildflower habitat across the UK. And you can do your bit too, by creating your own patch, corner, garden or even candle on a window-sill full of meadow! After you’ve picked up your Botanica candle and enjoyed its evocative fragrance, all you need to do is:

1. Melt any leftover wax with warm water and clean thoroughly
2. Fill the jar with soil and break up any large clumps
3. Scatter your seeds and cover with a thin layer of soil
4. Place your planter in a sunny spot on your windowsill and water regularly
5. When your seeds have outgrown the jar, replant them in a larger pot

Soon your candle jar or corner of the garden will be bursting with the colours and scents of daisies, poppies, primrose, orchids and cowslips. You can relax safe in the knowledge that you’re doing your bit to help create a home for pollinators and create healthier environments for animals and plants!

Have you been a busy bee? We’d love to see your mini meadows! Share your colourful gardens and planters with the B&M Community on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.