Bracknell Forest Council and the Lexicon have been recognised by the government for their 'exceptional efforts' to protect bees.
The council recently announced it had won, alongside the Lexicon shopping centre, the ‘Bees Needs’ Champion award 2024.
The scheme, run by the Department for Environmental and Rural Affairs, acknowledges the effort of local authorities, community groups, farmers and businesses.
Bee pollination plays an important role in maintaining a healthy natural environment. Pollination is when insects transfer pollen grains between the male and female parts of flowers which creates offspring for a new generation.
The Lexicon has created a bee garden, containing three hives, on the roof of Princess Square carpark. This project involved five local primary schools, with more than 1,000 children.
School pupils helped to create a new bee hotel during ‘Bee Aware Week’.
Bracknell Forest Rangers have been working at Peacock Meadows, doing ‘traditional’ activities such as hay-cutting and grazing. This helps to promote a rich diversity of wildflowers and support a wide variety of pollinators.
Rangers are working with local beekeepers to keep active hives on key sites, as well as establish new meadow areas.
In Buckler’s Forest, volunteers have dug steps into an exposed bank to create nesting habitats for mining bees.
They’ve also converted old telecom boxes into ‘pollinator hotels’ by filling them with bark and bamboo.
Stephen Chown, head of natural estates said: “Rangers have worked tirelessly to create the best possible bee and insect friendly habitat throughout our borough.
“We are so proud they have received this recognition.”
Sue Boor, head of marketing at The Lexicon, added: “The success of using urban spaces, such as our car park roof for wildlife, is proof that all environments can be made into welcoming habitats.”
As well as Bracknell, ‘45 Bees Needs’ champions were recognised across the country.
This is part of wider government efforts to improve pollination across England. Their ten-year national pollinator strategy outlines how government, conservation groups, farmers and researchers can work together to improve conditions.
The Department for Environment and Public Affairs says there are five simple actions that anyone can take to help pollinators.
These include growing more nectar rich flowers, letting patches of garden and land grow wild and cutting grass less often. As well as this, people should make sure they don’t disturb insect nests and hibernation spots and should think carefully about whether to use pesticides.
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