Biodiversity can be defined as the 'variety of life' and the demonstration site, at the southern end of Fleming Park, adjacent to Nightingale Avenue, Eastleigh, has been designed to demonstrate how relatively small enhancements and changes to management can boost wildlife in an area.
 
The Itchen Hamble Countryside Project began work on the Demonstration Site in 2003 with funding from the Eastleigh Local Area Committee. With the help of local volunteers this close mown grassy area is being transformed into a wildlife friendly haven that is also a pleasant area in which to relax.

Since then a hawthorn hedge, shrubby boundary and butterfly garden have been planted as well as a wildflower meadow. The site is fortunate to be located beside the Monks Brook that flows through the park. The brook has lush bankside vegetation and pools and rapids created by the flow of water and movement of gravel.
 
Every year the demonstration site will be surveyed to monitor the wildlife present to hopefully show how the biodiversity in the area is increasing over time.

Before the transformation ...	... and after

The Wildflower Meadow
The meadow flowered for the first time in 2005 with a spectacular display of cornfield annuals such as poppy, cornflower, corncockle and chamomile daisy. The mass of colourful flowers acts as a magnet for bees and other insects looking for food and shelter.  
In following years more perennial plants will flower such as yarrow, self heal, salad burnet and lady's bedstraw.

The Hedge and Shrubby Boundary 
All the plants used here are native British shrubs and small trees. Species include field maple, hawthorn, guelder rose, crab apple and hazel.
 
Hawthorn is the most widely planted hedging shrub in Britain and flowers in May, hence it often being refered to as 'May'. The flowers are a valuable nectar source for insects and the bright red berries in the autumn are popular with birds.  Crab apples also tend to flower in May with a pink or white blossom. Their small apples, rippening in the autumn, are favoured by birds or red admiral butterflies that drink from the rotting fruit.
 
Butterfly Garden 
This area has been planted with more exotic garden plants to attract common butterflies such as peacock, red admiral and painted lady as well as many other insects. Shrubs include buddleia or 'butterfly bush', lavender which is also good for bees and the winter flowering viburnum tinus.