Flowering meadows are appealing to gardeners and valuable for wildlife, but they can be difficult to establish. How to Make a Wildflower Meadow will change all that with its pragmatic yet eco-friendly advice. Gardeners and landscape professionals alike will relish James Hewetson-Brown's common sense approach. There is no need to be an expert on habitat planting or plant ecology just follow the step-by-step techniques. Using seed, plug plants, bulbs, and roll-out turf, you can establish meadow the same year you plant it. How to Make a Wildflower Meadow includes 30 case studies that describe successful meadow plantings alongside paths, utility areas, and ponds and in mixed borders, orchards, green roofs, sloping banks, and containers. Interviews offer a fascinating insight into the the installation process and the pleasures of living with a wildflower meadow.
"James Hewetson-Brown knows how to make wildflower meadows – his turf was used for the London Olympics and several Chelsea Flower Show gardens. In the most comprehensive guide to creating a meadow I've ever seen, he discusses the pros and cons of using seed, the merits of adding annuals and how to keep the display going for as long as possible. His book leaves us with no excuses not to try creating meadows of our own."
– Kate Bradbury, BBC Wildlife Magazine
"For those who want to create meadows on a larger scale, new British publisher Filbert has just released How to Make a Wildflower Meadow, by James Hewetson-Brown (€23.50). This is a comprehensive guide to making and maintaining all kinds of meadows, with extensive advice, and more than two dozen case studies. These include wildlife meadows, wildflower roofs, community schemes and the meadow stage-set created for Danny Boyle's 2012 Olympics opening ceremony."
– Jane Powers, The Sunday Times
"Here is someone who really knows what he is talking about and describes it with clarity and detail. [...] The book is well designed and laid out, with clear type and lovely photographs. With its cutting edge techniques, it is practical as well as inspiring, an invaluable manual whatever the size of your garden or project."
– The Reckless Gardener online magazine and blog
"This isn't some wistful fantasy longing for a landscape from a bygone era but a no nonsense guide full of fool-proof advice and real-life illustrations for the practitioner. Hewetson-Brown is at the cutting edge of the industry. In this book he provides the reader with novel techniques fit for the 21st Century where meadows matter more than ever before. Essential reading for the modern meadow maker."
– Helen Bostock, RHS Wisley
"Here is a book that seeks to enthuse and inform "meadow makers" large and small, weather creation or enhancement. Most importantly it addresses a major factor often neglected, that of "managing expectation". Now there's no excuse for anyone not to put a little Flower rich patch in their garden."
– Keith Datchler, People Need Nature
"James's book is an essential guide to achieving the ultimate wildflower meadow. As a grower of landscape trees and plants I appreciate such a practical approach. As a plantsman the attention to detail in the plant selection is impressive."
– Kevin Hobbs, Hillier Nurseries Ltd