Well, a lot has been happening recently to get Torbay Buzzing! I’ve been concentrating on getting some pollinator cafes planted up, launching our Torbay’s Buzzing Big Pollinator Survey; and running an art competition for local children to design seed packets.
Crest Bed. Torquay
The Crest Bed was planted with the help of volunteers from Torquay Bowling Club. In the middle of the bed, there are concentric rings of some taller species. There are quadrants of other lower-growing species (so there will be distinct quarters of different colours), and an outer ring of Wild primrose
Plants used were kindly donated by Habitat Aid Ltd and were: Thrift (Armeria maritime), Wild Carrot (Daucus carot), Sea Campion (Silene uniflora ), Sheep’s Bit Scabious (Jasione montana), White Campion (Silene latifolia), Kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria); Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and Wild primrose (Primula vulgaris).
Wildflower planting and Bug Hunt at Wild Fox Playground, Paignton.
I went along to a “Play Torbay” event at Wild Fox Adventure Playground. Wildflowers were planted with the help of children in planters made from recycled tyres planters. These were: Wild teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), Wild Carrot (Daucus carot), Common knapweed (Centaurea nigra), Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber), Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), Sheep’s Bit Scabious (Jasione montana), Autumn Hawkbits (Leontodon autumnalis) and Rough Hawkbit (Leontodon hispidus).
We also planted some Wild primroses (Primula vulgaris) in a grassy bank to create a lovely display, and useful source of nectar for our pollinators, in the spring.
We had fun doing a Bug Hunt using the new “Torbay’s Buzzing Big Pollinator Survey” sheet.
Flowering herbs planted at Furzeham green , Brixham.
I met with Carole and Evan from the Friends of Furzeham green to plant some flowering herbs with the help of some enthusiastic children from Furzeham Primary School. These were: English Lavender (Lavandula angustifola),Thyme (Thymus), Rosemary (Rosmarinus offinalis), Catmint (Nepeta), Chives ( Allium schoenoprasum), and Common/English sage (Salvia officinalis).
We would like to get a boat and plant this up with flowers at Furzeham as well.
We also had fun doing a Bug Hunt using the “Torbay’s Buzzing Big Pollinator Survey” sheet, despite the somewhat cold and windy conditions. .
More pollinator cafes are planned at Babbacombe Down and Young’s Park…watch this space….
Launch of “Torbay’s’ Buzzing Big Pollinator Survey” at Torre Abbey.
The “Torbay’s Buzzing Big Pollinator Survey” was launched by doing a Bug Hunt using the new survey sheet. This was kindly supported by Ali Marshall at Torre Abbey. I met Kevin Foster, MP for Torbay who is supportive of our work.
See the next blog for the outcome of the Art competition, and much more!
Joanne Gilvear 23/06/16
