Pictorial Meadows are beautiful, exciting, colourful and uplifting 'meadows' that flower for months on end, with very simple maintenance.  They have been developed over the past 10 years, initially as a result of intensive research programmes at the University of Sheffield, and then subsequently through extensive use in large and small sites througout the UK.  They are used widely by garden designers, landscape architects, local authorities and private gardeners who wish to creat dependable, cost-effective, visually striking plantings that are also great for wildlife. 

   Pictorial Meadow in Telford.  Photo courtesy of Chris Jones, Telford and Wrekin Borough Council

The key concept behind Pictorial Meadows is that they combine both native wildflowers and non-native species from similar habitats.  The use of the 'exotic' species greatly prolongs the flowering season - most of our native wildflowers finish flowering in July/August: Pictorial Meadows will flower well into the autumn and early winter  And it also allows very special colour-themed mixtures to be produced.  The overall effect is of painting the landscape, with beautiful impressionistic plantings.  They are therefore aesthetic meadows, designed for their visual beauty: Pictorial Meadows.

Pictorial Meadows are designed vegetations that are intended to be used as part or all of a designed or managed landscape: urban parks and public spaces, or in private gardens.  They are not suitable for the open countryside -  appropriate mixes of native wildflowers should be used in that location.

Key Features of Pictorial Meadows - all these points are explained in greater detail below

• very long season of flowering from the same area of land, with little or no maintenance
• visual beauty at a wide range of scales - from close up detail to landscape scale vistas
  
• People are strongly attracted to the meadows
  
• High biodiversity value
• Simple to maintain