Largest wildflower meadow near Loch Ness blooms at Boleskine House
A charity seeking to restore and preserve the historical legacy of Boleskine House and its estate has seen the efforts to establish the largest wildflower meadow in the region bloom this summer.
Two years after securing funding for the initiative, The Boleskine House Foundation saw the five-acre meadow showing significant color in its first year of bloom.
The meadow at Boleskine – formerly owned by occultist Aleister Crowley and later Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page – is one of the charity’s biodiversity initiatives that aims to support an increase in bee populations.
Keith Readdy, chairman of the charity, said: “For the first time since planting, we are seeing remarkable colour and growth in the meadow.
“We have transformed the land from a once-abandoned field into a beautiful place for people to enjoy and for bees and wildlife to thrive.”
According to The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, the UK has lost 97 per cent of its wildflower meadows since the 1930s, and the loss of our nation’s meadows is one reason that bee populations have been in decline.
The creation of this meadow was made possible by an ambitious 2022 initiative, which raised more than £30,000 from the Highland Council Nature Restoration Fund and the Aviva Community Fund.
It was developed and planted with millions of native Scottish wildflower seeds.
One of the foundation’s trustees, Gary Livingstone, added: “I have been visiting Boleskine for more than 30 years, and it is now incredibly encouraging to see our meadows supporting pollinators and boosting local diversity.
“The grounds were so dilapidated for so many years, but now the meadow is in full bloom, buzzing with wildlife, and providing a stunning display on the banks of Loch Ness.”
