A TROWBRIDGE town councillor is praying for rain after a group of volunteers sowed seeds on Saturday (April 23) for a Jubilee Meadow to celebrate The Queen’s 70-year reign.

Paxcroft ward town councillor Mel Jacob, who also runs The Big Community Grow project in Trowbridge. said: “I must be the only person praying for rain. We just need some rain now to help the seeds grow.”

Mrs Jacob says she is “really pleased” with the project after locals helped on Saturday to plant wildflower seeds on a strip of land in the Leap Gate area maintained by Wiltshire Council.

Wiltshire Times: Cllr Mel Jacob helps sow the seeds for the Jubilee Meadow at Leap Gate to celebrate The Queen's 70-year reign. Photo: Trevor Porter 67969-3Cllr Mel Jacob helps sow the seeds for the Jubilee Meadow at Leap Gate to celebrate The Queen's 70-year reign. Photo: Trevor Porter 67969-3

She said: “We had around 20 people helping to sow the seeds and a local farmer came along with his harrow to rake the soil after Trowbridge Town Council had stripped off the turf.

“We have sown cornflower, poppy, cosmos, Baby’s Breath, red flowering flax, pot marigold and coreopsis seeds.

“We want to create a Jubilee Meadow with an impact to provide a habitat for birds and insects rather than just a flower border.

“The area is next to a main road and will hopefully discourage children from playing next to the road and improve safety.”

The Jubilee Meadow will form part of a nature trail circuit that can be walked or cycled and will include the existing wildflower area in Paxcroft Brook and Green Lane Woods.

The residents were given a £1,000 donation by housebuilders Persimmon towards the project and received a £1,900 grant from the Trowbridge Area Board in March.

Children from the local primary school have helped to design waymarker signage for the nature trail highlighting the wildlife in the area.

The land on which the meadow stands is owned by Persimmon but is maintained by Wiltshire Council.

It is due to be part of an asset transfer from Wiltshire Council to Trowbridge Town Council later this year.

Locals have also come together to plan a street party for the Paxcroft Ward on Friday, June 3 with music, jelly, cake and a talent contest for children and adults.

Mrs Jacob added: “It will be a great way to bring people together after the horrible couple of years we have all been through with the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated in 2022 in the Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. The celebration plans were formally unveiled in full by Buckingham Palace on 10 January 2022.