How small an area Merlin? There's probably cheaper ways though it's a little late in the season to sow seed. I'm a bit wary of instant solutions too, taking time to create the right conditions would give you better long-term results

we tried one at work but it wasn't that successful, possibly as we couldn't water it over the weekends.

Darren, the mats are one metre square. They say that they are about a year old and will bed down quickly on prepared ground as long as they are watered. The mats already have flowers although they've been trimmed for rolling up the turf. The reviews seem genuine and are good except for two.
They can be planted any time as long as the ground is not frozen or is covered in snow, which is a bit obvious.
SBG would no water at weekends cause the plants to fail? I would've thought they would manage once they are established.
Oh dear, not sounding hopeful is it?

it was a very hot couple of weeks and they didn't establish. once established they are usually good. a sprinkler if we'd had one would have been a bonus. ;o)

Later we bought a mixture of wildflower plug plants and this was much more successful.

It's really hopeful that you want to do it imho! But late in the year & not buying into easy fixes... get 3x 99p washing up bowls, make drainage holes in the bottom, fill them with old, used compost or whatever you've got. Sow seed & water... that may get you wildflowers this year. Poppies might be good?
The grass under the bowls will die off with lack of light. Dig it up in strips & turn it upside down next Spring as the place to sow new wildflower seeds.
It's complete bunk that wildflowers will grow well if you just chuck a few seeds around. Some, like dead nettles, mallow, etc. will gain purchase if you're lucky but keeping them in a square metre won't work

SBG I suppose I'm looking for an easy way to create a wildflower patch. It is quite expensive at £42 but I can imagine spending that much on native species. I already have a good amount of wild flowers because i let my grass grow and cut it back once a year. But I would love to have some meadow flowers for the insects they attract. Darren, you have given me some really useful advice and I think I'm going to try it out. I already have a large patch of stinging nettles and don't want any more. I've not heard of the planting tips you mention but it does make sense to me.

Dead nettles aren't like stingers, they're tiny little things. They just have nettle shaped leaves, lamium is the Latin name. They'll flower in a mild Winter & some have silver leaves

I can send you some seed of pink campion, scabious or even small plants come the spring. clover too if you don't have any. let me know.

When we have scattered seed we have always removed a small patch of grass to expose the soil for the seed.

Thankyou both for your thoughts and ideas and your generous offer SBG. I would love some of the seeds you mention. By that time, if I follow Darren's method, I should have a prepared patch of soil. Not sure whether it's poor enough though.

You could try Yellow Rattle. It's good for pollinators & is a parasite on grass roots, weakening the grass & giving wildflowers more of a chance. Difficult to find small amounts of seed to buy though...

naturescape uk sell lots of wild plants including yellow rattle. Sarah Raven sells seed too [lots of seed quite cheap] to name just 2. Put yellow rattle plants for sale uk in to internet search and about a dozen pop up offering plugs and seeds.

I've read about yellow rattle for weakening the grass. In fact I feel like sprinkling some seed on the council's patch of wild flowers on a local grass verge; it's being smothered by grass. I would like to buy plugs for myself really and I think after Monty recommended it last week on GW, plenty of people will be looking for it and market forces will prevail.

Thanks Seaburn, I'll have another look. Last time I searched I only found it sold by weight!