A £15,000 scheme will see wildflowers planted to transform two Swindon roundabouts.

The scheme will see the roundabouts transformed into dramatic and sustainable meadow-like landscapes by spring next year. 

And it is hoped the programme, a partnership between Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Swindon Borough Council, the University of Sheffield Landscape Department and landscape architects Pictorial Meadows, will benefit both residents and millions of drivers who use Swindon’s roads, while at the same time providing an essential wildlife habitat.

The roundabouts, in Kembrey Park and Elgin Drive, have been chosen for the scheme with planting scheduled to start in September, with the main display of flowers from March to October 2016. 

Councillor Brian Ford, Swindon Borough Council cabinet member for Streetsmart, said: “We’ve experimented with wildflower meadows in the past with some success, so we were very interested in the prospect of working with the recognised experts in this field to improve on what has already been done.

"We strongly believe in the importance of sustainable planting as a way of bringing urban areas to life and we felt this project is a creative way to improve the aesthetics of the area for the benefit of Swindon residents.

"We very much hope residents and visitors in the area will enjoy the result and we’re very grateful for Enterprise’s support with this innovative project that will bring a new vibrancy to the town.” 

The scheme is part of Enterprise’s celebration of its 20th anniversary in the UK, creating an ecological initiative that will see roundabouts up and down the country transformed by the latest wildflower planting technology pioneered by the University of Sheffield Landscape Department.

All the plants and shrubs within the designs have been selected for their impact – not only on the population of the Swindon borough but also to encourage the proliferation of a number of rare species of insects and birds. 

It builds on last year’s wildflower project in Swindon and aims to create a more long-term and sustainable scheme. 

The meadows are expected to flower for at least 10 years, with the added benefit for the council that keeping the mini-meadows healthy and attractive will require minimum effort and cost. 

The technology behind establishing these wildflower meadows has taken years to perfect, said Nigel Dunnett, of the University of Sheffield, one of the main designers for the London Olympic Park and a recognised world expert on the establishment of wildflower meadows.

“Our research into wildflower meadows has spanned over a decade and is still ongoing," he said.

"Many of the blends and techniques that we use are now being adopted by other countries. It’s hugely important to see support from businesses for these wildflower initiatives, as they help to drive vital improvements in urban areas where public funding continues to be tight. 

"We are very much looking forward to seeing outstanding results in Swindon.”