Bees given a boost by the Growth Project

Councillor Richard Farnell at the Growth Project, Kellett Street allotments

Local bees are being given a boost by developing an orchard and wild flower meadow on a derelict, flood prone piece of land at Kellett Street allotments.

The first step after clearing the site, and planting willow to stabilise the river bank, has been for the Growth Project to build new fences.

A grant for the materials arranged by Councillor Richard Farnell gave the group the finances to complete the task and he visited the Project on Thursday 18 January.

The team will now move on to planting a range of fruit trees and native wild flowers to finish the project.

The 4,000 species of bees and pollinating insects are very important to crops grown for food.

Bees are responsible for 80% of crop pollination, with an estimated one out of every three mouthfuls of the food eaten depending on these tiny insects.

However, due to insecticides and the decline of native flowering plants our bee populations are on the decline. One way to help to reduce the decline is to restore pollinator-friendly habitats, including key flowering plants in our inner-city spaces such as allotments, parks and even roadside verges.