CHILDREN from Batchley First School recently helped create a wildflower habitat at The Old Needleworks, transforming a grassy verge into what they hope will be a colourful corner for pollinating insects.

The Britten Street craft centre now plans to let nature explode after the children launched a collection of seedbombs, fashioned from clay mixed with wildflower seed.

Community gardener Alistair Waugh said: "There may be a sewing class at The Old Needleworks today. But we're here for an outdoor sowing class. And a history lesson too.

"In the last 70 years the UK has lost 97 per cent of its wildflower meadows. We're trying to turn back the clock, on the site of a former Redditch needle-making factory.

"Wildflowers had a real connection with textiles and crafts. Wool would have been cleaned using the spiky heads of teasel flowers. While flowers, like woad and weld, created the dye for the famed Lincoln Green associated with Robin Hood."

The wildflower seeds include poppies, cornflowers and oxeye daisy and several more species.

Mr Waugh added: "The children worked hard making their seedbombs. We'll have to wait until summer to see what flowers. It's important for us to encourage pollinating insects like bees, especially as our allotment is only yards away."

Organised by Batchley Support Group, the activity is part of the Growing Batchley gardening project, funded by The People's Health Trust.