Microsoft word - bee wild in calne flyer

A community project to help our insect pollinators to recover and thrive in “We need to tackle the causes of biodiversity decline and seek ways to make more space for nature” (Calne JSA, Wiltshire Public Services Board) Bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects are in danger because of loss of habitat, partly due to ‘neat & tidy’ gardens, manicured lawns, non-native plants, gravel drives, etc. Over 70% of pollination of food plants in Europe is still done by bees ~ one in every three mouthfuls of food we enjoy is thanks to bees pollinating crops ~ honeybees work their whole life to make just a teaspoon full of honey ~ some UK bee species are already extinct ~ our native plants are suffering because of the use of ‘exotic’ and ‘hybrid’ species of plants in our gardens ~ wildflowers attract beneficial insects, and they can fill our gardens with a sea of colour with very little maintenance. BBC TV presenter Sarah Raven recently persuaded some local councils to successfully incorporate wildflower areas into their verges, park displays and lawns. The RHS Britain In Bloom judges are to mark wildflower areas positively, and winning councils such as Harrogate and Leeds are now planting wildflower areas as a matter of course. In Birmingham, 12 parks now include large meadow areas, and at the Olympic Park in London over 10,000 sq metres have been allocated to wild flowers. And these wildflower meadows are very low maintenance, needing very little watering, fertilizers or deadheading – they virtually get on with it by themselves! So people get a long season of beautiful meadow-like displays, and local authorities save money! But we, as individuals, can all play our part in our own gardens too – we can all make a difference. For every household to give at least 10% (and preferably more) of their garden over to To help our native wildflower species to have a greater presence in urban areas, and with To replace much of our tedious lawns (useless for pollinators) with swathes of colour. To increase the numbers of butterflies and other insects in our gardens, bringing gardens ‘back-to-life’ after decades of ‘over management’, helping them be more bio-diverse. You will see and smell the difference, and your environment will benefit. To encourage local authorities, land owners, schools, churches, and businesses to give some of their land/unused areas over to wildflowers.
In 2012, Calne Environmental Network is co-operating with the Kennet Beekeepers
Association and Calne In Bloom to provide online resources, local talks on transforming our
gardens into wildlife-friendly areas, and CEN will be providing seeds (for a donation of only
50p per 2 sq m pack), to help get you started. We can also come along to help and advise you
on the way forward. Local garden shops and centres are also good sources for wildflower
seeds and young plants. Look for packets of wildflowers such as ‘meadow mix’, ‘candy mix’ or
‘woodland edge’, as these give a great variety of flowers of varying heights and colour.
Larger amounts can be obtained from online suppliers (see below) and can work out much
cheaper per sq m.
Annuals will give good results this year, whereas perennials take longer to get established,
but will show well the second year and can carry on for years. Go for open, single flowers
(not more complex hybrids like Pelargoniums & Begonias).
Some good flowering plants for pollinators - an A-Z Allium, Angelica, Aquilegia, Borage, Buddleia, Bugle, Campanula, Comfrey, Corn Cockle, Cornflower, Corn Marigold, Corn Poppies, Cosmos, Cow Parsley, Cranesbill Geranium, Dahlia (single), Delphinium, Echinacea, Foxglove, Heather, Hebe, Hollyhock, Honesty, Honeysuckle, Hyssop, Laburnum, Lavender, Lilac, Lupin, Marjoram, Michaelmas Daisy, Muskmallow, Ox-Eye Daisy, Poppies, Purple Haze, Red Campion, Red Clover, Rosemary, Roses (single), Rudbeckia, Sage, St John’s Wort, Scabious, Sedum, Snapdragon, Sunflowers, Sweetpea, Teasel, Thistle, Verbena, Veronica, Vetch, White Clover, Wisteria, Zinnia, to name but a few! Most of these will self-seed so you may never have to sew or plant them again! Wall Ecology Project - ideas & resources on wildflower projects in gardens & urban areas. www.wallecologyproject.org East End Gardener, for urban wildflower gardening. www.eastendgardener.com Friends of the Earth are running Bee Prepared from April 2012. www.foe.co.uk Kiss My Grass website, for larger bags of mixed seeds. www.kissmygrass.co.uk Roceco for a good range of small packets of wildflower seeds. www.roceco.co.uk If you would like to get involved locally please contact us - 01249 823287. www.calne-environmental-network.org.uk 07779 945 326. www.kennet-beekeepers.co.uk BEE INVOLVED – LET’S GET CALNE BUZZIN’

Source: http://www.calne-environmental-network.org.uk/newsletters/BEE_WILD_IN_CALNE_flyer.pdf