Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Council’s Pollinator Action Plan, driven by the Let's-Get-Buzzing (opens in a new tab) campaign, is focused on improving pollinator habitats and increasing local biodiversity to meet their goal of doubling the abundance of wildlife by 2050. Since 2017, 25% of the grass verges in Bath and North East Somerset have been cut less frequentlyto create more favourable conditions for pollinators. However, more work was needed to raise awareness amongst local communities about the benefits of redesigning green urban spaces for wildlife.
The Bee Bold B&NES project has created eight new pollinator-rich habitats across Bath and North East Somerset in partnership with Blooming Whiteway (opens in a new tab), artist Marian Hill (opens in a new tab), and the Avon Wildlife Trust (opens in a new tab). These sites are:
- Beaufort East, Lambridge, Bath
- The Mount Road triangle, Southdown, Bath
- The Trafalgar Road tree triangle, Weston, Bath
- Lays Drive, Keynsham
- Welton Road Green, Midsomer Norton
- Orchard Way, Peasedown St John
- Claverton Road Open Space, Saltford
- The Leaze, Westfield
These demonstration sites serve both the community and wildlife. They are now attractive, well-maintained spaces and vital wildlife habitats with flower-rich meadows and food forests complete with new flowering shrubs and trees. At each site is signage explaining the importance of pollinators and why long grass and wildflower verges are so important for wildlife. These were created with help from local collage artist and illustrator Marian Hill.
Lastly, the Neighbourhood-Nature-Area scheme was formally launched as part of the project, inviting residents to adopt local green spaces, plant bee-friendly plants, and create their own wildflower meadows. As part of this, new management plans for creating and managing habitats across 5 closed cemeteries in Bath have been created.
See more photos on the Bee Bold B&NES Instagram page (opens in a new tab)
Find out more on the B&NES website. (opens in a new tab)
Image credit: Blooming Whiteway 
Image credit: Blooming Whiteway 
Image credit: Blooming Whiteway 
