Prospects for a Northern Flowerhouse

The idea of Northern Flowerhouse directly derives from a 2014 project – A Tale of Two Cities – which won the Kew Grow Wild England Flagship Award. The project was celebrated by the local community so much that people suggested that a Northern Flowerhouse could be established to continue this joy and laughter. The following is the vision we have:

Optimise Future Potential of Local Sites

  • Use wildflower landscapes to engage and inspire communities
  • Review management guidelines biannually
  • Secure funding and maintenance plans for all existing sites in Everton, Hulme/Moss Side and Huyton
  • Gather data on plant and invertebrate species for a shared Park Flower Plots data-set
  • Continue community sowing days and celebrations
  • Mow paths through the larger areas of flowers
  • Bring flowers into housing courtyards and school grounds
  • Engage more with local universities, youth and football clubs
  • Produce colourful signposts reflecting the changing flower landscapes

Build a Northern Flowerhouse 


  • Increase biodiversity and transform brownfield landscapes across the North
  • Convene an assembly of willing champions across the North of England
  • Work alongside the Woodland Trust’s vision for a Northern Forest
  • Involve landscape professionals in creative conservation
  • Find meaning in local contexts to develop narratives and tell stories
  • Curate a touring exhibition in galleries across Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Lancashire
  • Link wildflower landscapes across Northern towns and seek new stages, such as Great Exhibition of the North
  • Build on partnerships in Northern Ireland and across Northern Europe

Make a National Impact

  • Revitalise the National Wildflower Centre and increase its scope
  • Cultivate more sites for seed production nationally with the Eden Project
  • Convene a National Wildflower Assembly
  • Bridge the North-South and the urban, rural divide and evidence the best ways of increasing social cohesion
  • Consolidate an events and communications plan

Increase Skills

  • Provide innovative schools workshops in creative conservation methods
  • Continue to support and build the skills of the Grow Wild network and mentor programme
  • Launch a creative conservation professional development programme for public
and private sectors focused on local wildflower production and sites

Build a Shared Knowledge Base

  • Work with the Association of Public Service Excellence
  • Inspire a global network of urban regeneration programmes with wildflower landscapes at their heart
  • Develop international exemplars for climate change resilience

Thanks to all fellow citizens for these recommendations!