Make a beeline for Penrith’s temporary wildflower meadow

Tuesday, 21 December 2021

Penrith City Council invites residents to visit the “Let it Bee” wildflower meadow at Grey Gums Oval between December 2021 and May 2022 before the wildflowers are cultivated back into the soil.

Penrith Council was awarded funding under the NSW Government’s Greening the Great West Walk program to plant a temporary wildflower meadow at Grey Gums Oval, Cranebrook.

The planting will help reduce temperatures along the walk, mitigate the urban heat island effect, and help enhance biodiversity.

After flowering, Council staff will collect suitable seeds for propagation in Council’s nursery before the wildflowers are cultivated back into the soil for tree planting.

Penrith City Council’s General Manager, Warwick Winn, praised the garden for its innovation and sustainable approach.

“Council is proud to invite residents to visit the site and admire the flowers that have been planted in a bee shape,” Mr Winn said.

"By planting these trees, we're raising community awareness of the understanding of heat and the importance of cooling the Penrith LGA, which plays a key role in Council's Cooling the City strategy.

“The wildflower meadow is the first of its kind and is an innovative project that Council is excited to be a part of.

"I highly encourage residents to come to the site to see what flowers, butterflies and other pollinators you can spot before they’re gone.”

Minister for Western Sydney and Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres said a temporary wildflower meadow at Grey Gums Oval is being planted to transform the inferior clay soil and allow the planting of 78 new trees.

“The temporary wildflower installation is a creative way to prime the earth and overcome challenges to tree planting, creating an area that will be an asset for the community, now and in the future,” Mr Ayres said.

“Once planted the 78 new trees will boost canopy cover and bring down temperatures along the walk, while providing local habitat to native wildlife,” he said.

The wildflower meadow is on the route of the Great West Walk, a 65km walk from Parramatta to the base of the Blue Mountains.

Council has planted native wildflowers such as Bulbine bulbosa, Calotis lappulacea, Pultenaea villosa and Wahlenbergia, which are species that have adapted to Penrith’s soils, temperatures and climate over millions of years.

The site includes signage, seating and bee hotels to help provide a fun and educational experience.

For more information about the site, please visit penrith.city/LetItBee

Photo caption: An image taken yesterday of the Let it Bee site at Grey Gums Oval in Cranebrook, which is being monitored and photographed daily.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Tuesday, 21 December 2021.