THE future is brighter for a piece of derelict land in Padiham after it was transformed into a floral haven.
The vibrant array of wild flowers have sprung up on the site in Hambledon Street which was previously used for housing.
Padiham Town Council helped fund the cost of the seeding and worked with Burnley Council to create the meadow.
It is one of a number of green spaces across Burnley and Padiham that has been cultivated to create a wildflower meadow, including Burnley Wood.
The council said when rows of houses are demolished as part of wider plans to regenerate Burnley’s housing stock the cleared area are generally grassed over.
However in some cases the council has seeded the areas with wild flowers and as summer comes into full bloom so have these flowers, creating 'islands' of brightly coloured wildlife meadows.
Coun Andy Tatchell, who represents Padiham and is the mayor of Burnley this year, said he knew the area well and thought it helped brighten it up.
He said: “Anything that makes Padiham look a greener and brighter place is a good idea for me.”
In 2011 council chiefs announced they were going to stop cutting some of the grass across the borough, creating wildlife havens but also helping save money from the grass cutting bill.
Some of the towns’ parks, playing fields, grass verges and slopes are now allowed to grow, creating attractive scenes that look especially vibrant in the summer.
At the time of the decision the council said that it hoped the meadows would encourage bees, butterflies and birds into urban areas and reduce CO2 emissions.
The grass is left to grow and prosper during the summer months, before being trimmed back during the winter.
A council spokesman said: “A simple act of sowing wildflower seeds creates a wonderful splash of colour and helps brighten up the whole area, as well as putting a summer smile on people’s faces.”