Business Improvement Districts are areas where local businesses have agreed to invest together to improve their environment. Redcliffe and Temple BID have been working closely with local partners to improve public spaces within central Bristol.
The Bee Bold selection panel praised the example Redcliffe and Temple BID are setting for other BIDs and their connection between pollinator-friendly planting and employee wellbeing.
In autumn 2022, Redcliffe and Temple BID partnered with St Mary Redcliffe Church and Avon Wildlife Trust to plant a wildflower meadow at the front of the church. With help from local residents, and volunteers from 30 different businesses, the team installed multiple flower beds on the church grounds. The meadow now contains over 40 annuals, biennials, and perennials to not only benefit pollinators but raise awareness in a busy city centre location.
This planting forms part of a series of greening projects that were agreed as part of their new Green Infrastructure Action Plan. The aim of this plan is to make Redcliffe and Temple a sustainable, colourful, and welcoming space for everyone.
The wildflower meadow planting showcases what is achievable with even a small area of grass in a busy urban area. By installing a sign, passers-by can understand how and why the project is being carried out, the impact it’s having for pollinators, and the wider work happening across Bristol. The team have also received enthusiastic feedback from local businesses and other churches who are now interested in undertaking similar projects on their own grounds. This ripple effect showcases the project’s wider influence and will hopefully inspire local businesses and other organisations to act for nature.
Ali Kemp, Wardell Armstrong, Temple Studios, Temple Gate:
“Several of the Wardell Armstrong team worked alongside Tom and the team at BID and Avon Wildlife Trust to turn the soil and plant a fantastic mix of wildflower seeds in the grounds of our local St Mary Redcliffe Church. It was a brilliant excuse to escape the office over lunch time, meet some of our work neighbours and contribute to enhancing the local wildlife in the area. The whole team has loved walking past and seeing how the fruits of our labour have blossomed, and we even took a photo of the gorgeous blooms which is on the wall in the office. It was a great initiative to be part of and we look forward to supporting similar events in the future.”
Rhys Williams, St Mary Redcliffe Church, Redcliffe Way
“Prior to this wonderful project the area in question, which is located next to a busy main road, had been a relatively underused part of the churchyard. The team...transformed the space by planting a variety of plants that had been carefully chosen to form a rich habitat for insects and other wildlife. During the summer of 2023, the area transformed into a riot of colour, enhancing the setting of the church and, importantly, promoting biodiversity at our city centre site. This project has helped the church to realise its aspiration of becoming a green organisation that works in partnership with the local community to promote environmental sustainability in Redcliffe”.
The meadow contains an abundance of pollinator-friendly wildflowers including Common Knapweed, Birds-foot Trefoil, Meadow Cranesbill, and Lady’s Bedstraw. The team have received encouraging feedback from Avon Wildlife Trust on the growth and health of the new meadow in comparison to other sites. The learnings from the church have also already been applied to a new meadow that BID planted in Brandon Hill park.
Videos created by Floating Harbour Studios (floatingharbour.co.uk |www.instagram.com/floatingharbour/)