Great Glen Community Wildspace wins grant for Pollinators project!
Thanks to Trent Rivers Trust, Great Glen Community WildSpace (GGCWS) won a generous grant from WWF with Botanica by Airwick, to help restore wildflower habitats in 2021. Other partners in this ‘Pollinators Project’ in the Soar catchment include the Leicester and Rutland Wildlife Trust, and Leicester City and County Councils. Work started late in 2021 and is ongoing.
Pollinating insects (bees, moths, wasps, beetlesand others) are in serious decline, both from changing land use, and the continued use of insecticides. Habitats like flower meadows are essential for these insects that feed on pollen and their larvae or caterpillars that eat plants. Over the last 90 years a huge number of these meadows, estimated to be around 97% have been lost. Trent Rivers Trust’s partners are working to increase the amount of land that grows wild flowers to provide a home for these important creatures.
Two areas of land in Great Glen managed by GGCWS – ‘Meanders WildSpace’ at the Recreation Ground and ‘Burton Brook WildSpace’ near the bypass – are being made more pollinator friendly. Volunteers have already prepared some areas by sowing meadow mixes or other plants and will continue sowing more seeds ready for the summer. Any restrictions to access will be notified on the Parish Council website (here). GGCWS will make these areas clear and any reduced access will be for the shortest time possible while the young plants get started.
GGCWS will also be encouraging pollinator friendly gardening. Why not look out for signs about methods used, and change an area of your garden to make it a haven for pollinators too?
Do you have a skill that could help GGCWS? Are you good at gardening, social media, website management, fundraising or an avid naturalist? To join the friendly team and help with the Pollinators project, making a difference for wildlife please contact us. Our usual working day is Wednesday mornings, but we will be setting up other sessions on an occasional basis at other times including weekends.
