Pollinator patches creating a buzz in district
News release issued:
Wildflowers are springing to life across the district as Wyre Forest District Council trial four pollinator patches.
Attracting insects, bees and butterflies the patches are encouraging a wide variety of native wildflowers and grasses to thrive.
The trial, planned in partnership with the Butterfly Conservation and Friends of the Earth, has seen pollinator patches created in Stourport, Bewdley and Kidderminster.
The chosen wildflower areas include Stourport Road near the fire station, a section of the central reservation near the bus depot in Kidderminster, a piece of the verge along Dunley Road in Stourport and the small park at Lingfield Crescent in Bewdley.
There are also plans to introduce a ‘bee hotel’ at Lingfield Crescent to provide an artificial nesting habitat to solitary bees.
Ali Bakr, Wyre Forest District Council’s Community and Strategic Projects Manager said: “Pollinators such as bees and butterflies are a vital part of our ecosystem and are responsible for pollinating the crops that provide the food we eat.
“Worryingly they are in decline and initiatives like this are an important way of increasing biodiversity both in urban and rural areas, with the very welcome side effect that they are lovely to look at.
“If the trial is successful, we will look to introduce more pollinator patches across the district next year.”
A climate emergency was declared by the district council in 2019. A cross-party advisory panel is leading on the council’s green agenda. More information on the green agenda can be found on our Greener Wyre Forest webpages.