The Seed Mix
- Sweet Alyssum produces an attractive bouquet of button-like, white flowers, hence its Maltese name of ‘Buttuniera’. its leaves, stems and flowers are high in Vitamin C and may be used in cooking, adding a strong flavour to various dishes.
- Red Corn Poppy is known for its paper thin and bright red flowers, accented with a deep, dark centre. This native plant is one of the most well-known wildflowers in Europe, both for its beauty, and its association with World War 1. Processed Poppy leaves, seeds and flower petals are used to treat irritable coughs, fevers, insomnia, poor digestion and pain. Raw or cooked Poppy seeds are used as flavouring in cakes, bread, fruit salads, etc.
- Chamomile produces small round, white scented flowers, and is used to flavour food and drinks, mouthwash and provide a pleasant smell to soaps and cosmetics. Processed flowers are known for helping people sleep, and used to relieve cramps, as well as treat minor inflammatory conditions, cracked skin and sore throats.
- Common Borage is a native pollinator friendly, and annual flowering plant which is grown for culinary use. It can grow into a large bush producing small blue bell-shaped flowers. Since Ancient Roman times, Common Borage was believed to bring about pleasant feelings of joy, make one feel strong or courageous and even cure drunkenness. Recent studies show that Borage seed oil helps reduce cardiovascular stress, fever and can treat skin diseases and inflammation.
90% of the world's flowering plants depend directly on pollinator species to reproduce, including many fruit trees and crops which human beings and our domestic animals, depend on for food and as a source of income. Additionally, 35% of the world's food and over half the human diet of fats and oils comes from crops pollinated by animals.
Wildflowers provide food and shelter for pollinators, including bees, butterflies and moths. In return for this service, pollinators collect and spread wildflower pollen from plant to plant allowing for development of seeds. Various ecosystems, and living things within them, depend on this synergy between pollinators and flowering plants.
Reduction in the population and collapse of pollinator species populations would negatively impact the agricultural sector, and consequently the global economy and essential food supplies.
In doing so, the Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning shall contribute to the EU’s biodiversity strategy for period 2020 to 2030. This is a comprehensive, ambitious and long-term plan to protect nature and reverse habitat loss through specific nationwide actions and commitments, including key actions on pollinator species.
By engaging with the public on the role of wildflowers and encouraging people to grow pollinator friendly plants at home, this project shall contribute to the EU Pollinators Initiative. This initiative was inaugurated in 2018, and details actions to be taken by the EU and its Member States to address the decline of pollinators in the EU and contribute to global conservation efforts.