Enhancing Biodiversity in Historic Tenby: Wildflower Plug Planting and Seeding on Castle Hill

Introduction 

Pembrokeshire County Council, in partnership with the Pembrokeshire Nature Partnership, commissioned Enviroculture to deliver biodiversity enhancements on Castle Hill, Tenby. Works included plug planting over 14,000 wildflowers, wildflower seeding, strimming, and cut-and-collect management within a historic, high-profile visitor location.

About The Client

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Environmental Services team, working with the Pembrokeshire Nature Partnership, leads local initiatives to enhance biodiversity and public green spaces. Castle Hill in Tenby is a Scheduled Monument and one of the town’s most prominent landmarks, attracting large numbers of visitors

The Challenge

The project involved working within the castle walls and surrounding areas of Tenby, all of which are highly sensitive historically and extremely busy with visitors. Challenges included:

• Protecting historic features: A mature shrub growing within a castle wall required a conservation-led decision to prune rather than remove, avoiding damage to historic masonry.
• Public safety and access: Works were carried out in live visitor areas including narrow walkways, steep banks, and the busy café frontage.
• Site access and parking: Limited parking and restricted vehicle access on Castle Hill required careful logistics and manual handling.
• Environmental sensitivity: Enhancements had to be delivered without disturbing archaeological features or damaging established vegetation of heritage value.

The Solution

Enviroculture developed a programme aligned with Lot 10 biodiversity specifications:

• Wildflower plug planting: Approximately 14,200 plugs (40–70cc) were planted across five discrete 100m² areas, at 28 plugs per m². Areas were first mown, and all cuttings removed offsite before planting.
• Wildflower seeding: Four pollinator beds were prepared, including elevated banks along the walkway. Vegetation was stripped, ground raked, and seed applied by hand. All arisings were removed offsite.
• Strimming and cut-and-collect: The steep bank beside the café slipway was strimmed, and arisings removed. The top of the café wall was cut back by hand, carefully avoiding damage to the stonework.
• Heritage protection: Consultation with the client on-site ensured sensitive vegetation removal decisions, particularly the pruning of a shrub embedded in historic masonry.
• Public safety: Exclusion zones, barriers, and signage were deployed to safely manage works in high-footfall areas.

The Implementation

The project was delivered over a series of carefully planned site visits. Teams used lightweight equipment and manual handling techniques due to access restrictions. Plug planting and seeding were carried out in stages, with ground prepared in dry conditions to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. Strimming and cut-and-collect were timed for low visitor periods to minimise disruption.

The Results

• Biodiversity Gains: Over 14,000 wildflower plugs and multiple seeded areas established to enhance pollinator habitats.
• Heritage Protection: Sensitive works ensured no damage to Scheduled Monument walls or archaeological features.
• Visitor Experience: Castle Hill was enhanced with new wildflower displays, improving both aesthetics and biodiversity value.
• Sustainability: All arisings were removed offsite, leaving clean, prepared sites for wildflower establishment