Aviva Backs Boleskine Plans to Plant Largest Wildflower Meadow in Loch Ness

INVERNESS, Scotland - Nov. 3, 2021 - PRLog -- With the COP26 conference well under way in Glasgow, The Boleskine House Foundation SCIO, which is restoring the B-listed fire-damaged Boleskine House, has announced plans to create the largest wildflower meadow in Loch Ness, covering a six acre field in an elevated position near Foyers. The project is backed and supported by the Aviva Community Fund.

According to The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, the UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows since the 1930s. Wildflower meadows support a variety of wildlife. The loss of our nation's meadows is one reason that bee populations are in decline. The meadow will be developed and planted with native Scottish wildflower seeds as well as tree plantings.

"We want to do our part to reverse the decline," said Keith Readdy, Chairman of The Boleskine House Foundation, which runs the project. "We are delighted that Aviva has chosen our project to be part of their Climate Fund, which will help us create a meaningful impact in the local area." The planting is planned to start in 2022.

At COP26 this week, Sir David Attenborough said, "As you spend the next two weeks debating, negotiating and compromising as you surely must, it's easy to forget that ultimately the emergency climate comes down to a single number. The concentration of carbon in our atmosphere." Wildflower meadows can hold nearly three times more carbon than tree planting alone in the same area. "This is precisely one of the reasons for our ambitious project," said Keith Readdy.

The Aviva fundraiser runs for the next month. Aviva matches every pledge up to £150,000, in competition with other projects. In just the first day, Boleskine's wildflower meadow project exceeded its initial fundraising goal. If the Foundation reaches its stretch goal, it pledges to also create new footpaths and benches, so people can enjoy walking through the meadow without damaging it or harming wildlife, and spend time enjoying the beautiful landscape.

Details of the wildflower meadow project can be found here: https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/creating-the-largest-wildflower-meadow-in-lochness

The meadow project is separate from the Boleskine House rebuild. All funds raised for wider environmental conservation projects are treated separately from funds for the rebuild of Boleskine House. The charity's fundraiser for Boleskine's new roof is ongoing.