Pollinators' Month aims to get Devon buzzing
Devon Local Nature Partnership is aiming to Get Devon Buzzing this month (July) with a month of 'pollinator' themed events across the county.
The first ever Devon Pollinators' Month aims to raise awareness of our bees, butterflies and other insects, many of which are in serious decline.
Events have been organized by a wide range of partners including local farmers, East Devon District Council, Devon Wildlife Trust, National Trust, FWAG SW, Paignton Zoo, Dartmoor Meadows Project and Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust.
As part of the Pollinators’ Month everyone is being asked to commit to doing something to help Devon’s pollinators and to sign the Devon Pollinators’ Pledge.
Anyone with a garden, allotment, windowbox or other land can plant bee friendly flowers which help to provide nectar and pollen throughout the year.
Pollinator Pledge postcards will be available at all events and have been sponsored by WBW Solicitors.
The Partnership is also running a photo competition over the summer with prizes for the best pictures.
Events include the Goren Festival of Wild Flower Meadows on 9 July, which celebrates the richness of their 70 acres of wildflower meadows in the middle of the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
For people keen on learning more about how to identify pollinators and nectar-rich flowers, there is a Bumble Bee Identification Workshop on the 24 July in Exeter and a Wild Flower Identification Workshop on 2 July in Plymouth.
Suzanne Goodfellow, Chair of the Devon Local Nature Partnership says: "We are standing up for these vital insects and are taking action right across the county with the help of all our partners. By encouraging everyone to come along to one of the pollinators events, learn about pollinators and pledge to do at something to help, we can make a huge difference.”
Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for the environment was one of the first to sign the pledge following the Council’s decision to produce a Pollinators’ Action Plan. He said: “Please join me and hundreds of others and sign the pollinator’s pledge. If you want to know more, attend one of these fantastic events and then take some time to do something on your patch this month for our bees. We all need pollinators and so it is up to us all to help them."
For more information about all the events and sign up to the Pollinators Pledge visit: http://www.naturaldevon.org.uk/
