Pastures and meadows with a rich abundance of wild flowers were once common in the countryside, but are now becoming increasingly rare, and the interest in meadow gardens has risen accordingly. A wildflower meadow makes an attractive feature in early summer and will provide a variety of food for many insects, which, in turn, will attract birds to the garden.

It is important to select plants that are suitable for the site and conditions and to establish and maintain them properly if they are to look effective. A meadow garden may be developed easily and satisfactorily on even relatively poor soil, and in fact, some of the most attractive grassland species prefer these conditions rather than richer, well-fertilised garden soils.

Many meadow wild flowers are perennials that persist well once they are established in an appropriate, correctly managed habitat. Wildflower seed can be sown in early autumn or mid-spring, and specialist seed companies can supply mixtures for different types of soil and local conditions such as sandy soil, chalky soil, wet soil and woodland. Seed mixtures of "cornfield annuals" are sometimes recommended for meadow gardening but are not always suitable, as they require regularly cultivated soil to thrive, and would soon die out in grassland.

Follow these tips to create a natural wildflower meadow:

• Mark out the area for the meadow using pegs and string - a natural curved shape in an open sunny area works best.
• Dig out the turf and topsoil (both these can be re-used around the garden).
• Bring the ground up to the desired level by adding subsoil from another part of the garden.
• Rake the soil and firm down with the back of the rake head.
• Work out the total area of your meadow and weigh out that amount of seed (usually 1g per sq m). The seed mix can be mixed with an equal amount of silver sand to make sowing more even.
• Sow the seed evenly by hand, walking up and down the area.
• Rake it lightly and firm gently.
• Protect the newly-sown seed from birds by netting supported on bamboo canes.
• Leave the meadow to grow, then cut with garden shears, trimmer or mower. The timing of the cut is important as the flowers need to have seeded before they are removed. Spring meadows are left uncut until midsummer, whereas summer meadows are mown to 7-8cm until early summer, then left to flower and cut in the autumn.
• Rake the hay up to keep the nutrient level of the soil low.