VOLUNTEERS from Yorkshire Water have helped plant a wildflower meadow at Silsden.

Staff from the company took part in the project, at Howden House, with members of the Aire Rivers Trust.

Gareth Muir, project officer with the trust, thanked the Yorkshire Water team for its support.

He added: "The primary purpose of the planting scheme is to provide habitat for curlews to nest in and to increase biodiversity for pollinators by having a mix of various wildflowers and grasses.

"A floodplain meadow grassland seed mix was specially selected for its ability to withstand seasonal flooding. These wildflowers and grasses can happily grow in poor, wet soil, providing an important flower-rich resource for bees, butterflies and ground-nesting birds.

"We also planted a hay meadow wildflower mix, which is a seed mix suited for low-fertility, moist soils that dry out in the summer. Hay meadow habitats are associated with high plant diversity, which provides a flower-rich resource for notable pollinators such as the common and shrill carder bee."

Anne Reed, for Yorkshire Water, says: "It is great to see our staff volunteering their time to give back to the community.

"Thank you to all employees who have taken the time to volunteer."