Pollinator patch project
Wildflower meadows have declined nationally by over 95% since the 1930s having a huge knock-on effect upon our pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Many of our districts Nature Reserves and Parks are already important resources for these insects but we feel that more can be done. By leaving some verges to flower this will greatly expand the area available for them and will hopefully act as ‘steppingstones’ allowing the insects and flowers to spread throughout the district. We are not seeding these areas but encouraging our locally native flora to thrive by altering the mowing regime. Of course, not all verges can be allowed to grow as it may reduce visibility, each area will be considered separately. If these trials are successful, we will hopefully be expanding the areas in future years around the district.
It is important that if we are leaving the areas uncut in the flowering season that we allow them to die back naturally. This allows the insect species that have used the verges for reproduction to complete their life cycles and prepare for winter while also allowing the flowers and grasses to set seed. Cutting them any earlier would cause more harm than good.
Pollinator patches
We introduced our pollinator patch project in 2022. The pollinator patches were chosen in conjunction with the Butterfly Conservation Trust and Friends of the Earth.
The project concentrates on 4 pollinator patches in the district.
- Dunley Road
- Stourport Road
- Lowe Lane
- Lingfield Road - an artificial habitat for bees will be created and monitored
We have learned much from the first year of pollinator patches. This year we want to expand our knowledge of the ways of creating pollinator patches; to further understand the impacts, benefits and costs of the creation of pollinator patches; continue to survey and evidence the species we find and make sure the patches are clearly identifiable from the surrounding area.
A pollinator patch needs just one cut annually. This has to be done with a specialist cut and collect mower and the cuttings have to be taken from the site. This cut will be late summer/early autumn depending on the seasonal conditions.
We want to repeat this in as many areas as we can next year and with the correct management the habitat will improve year on year. We will identify these areas with a symbol that will be launched along with our Wyre Forest Wild project.
