Buglife Cymru has received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to deliver an exciting heritage project – Neath Port Talbot’s B-Lines. During this three year project we will work closely with local communities and schools, and partners including Neath Port Talbot Council, the local health board, housing associations, NGOs and Swansea University to restore and create accessible, wildflower-rich green spaces across the county for the benefit of both people and pollinators.
The Neath Port Talbot B-Lines project will restore and enhance 40 hectares of publicly accessible sites benefitting pollinators such as bees, wasps, butterflies and moths, and the people that live in, work in and visit the area. Additionally, we will inspire the enhancement of a further 20 hectares of pollinator habitat through training and motivating others to join us in taking action, creating a lasting legacy for the area.
Community groups, schools and local residents will also be invited to take part in the project through a range of fun and educational events including habitat creation days, bug walks and pollinator identification and survey workshops. The improved habitat will ultimately result in healthier functioning ecosystems for the benefit of wildlife, especially pollinating insects, as well as providing a wealth of benefits for people.
Commenting on the award, Buglife Cymru Conservation Officer, Emily Shaw said “We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery Players. The B-Lines project will provide an exciting opportunity for local communities and partners to work together to help support our struggling insect pollinator populations. By establishing a network of vital wildflower-rich habitat across the county, we can put the buzz back into our towns and countryside”.
NPT Local Nature Partnership Coordinator, Rose Revera said “Neath Port Talbot Nature Partnership are pleased to be working with and supporting Buglife on their NPT B-Lines Project. NPT is home to rare pollinators such as the shrill carder bee and small blue butterfly, and this project will be of great benefit, improving habitats and connectivity for the nature of NPT, as well as giving local people the chance to help our wildlife”.
Andrew White, Director of the National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said:
“The National Lottery is playing a critical role in supporting people, projects and communities during these challenging times and thanks to National Lottery players, up to £600 million has been made available to support communities throughout the UK during the Coronavirus crisis. By playing The National Lottery, you are making an amazing contribution to the nationwide-response to combatting the impact of Covid-19 on local communities across the UK.”
