Thanks to funding from The Scottish Government and The Greggs Foundation, The Central Scotland Green Network Trust are supporting Buglife to create 25 pollinator ‘hubs’ at various points along the John Muir Way. This funding will allow Buglife Scotland the opportunity to expand and bolster the work already being undertaken to create the first urban B-lines in Scotland, The John Muir Pollinator Way.
Buglife Scotland is
now busy searching for sites that can be transformed or enhanced for the benefit of pollinators. So far the team have been working closely with land owners and managers in East Dunbartonshire, The City of Edinburgh and Falkirk, however the hope is to create at least one ‘hub’ in each of the council areas that the John Muir Way runs through. To get the project started Buglife will be working with the Falkirk Community Trust at Kinneil Estate and Callendar Park as well as working with the Forestry Commission Scotland at Callendar Park. Then over the winter months Buglife will start finalising the remaining 22 sites that will make up the rest of the areas being improved for pollinators as part of this project.
Through creating these pollinator hotspots the project will be giving our wild pollinators a much needed helping hand and creating new habitats for other wildlife. Local communities and schools will also have the opportunity to connect with their local natural environment by getting involved, where possible, with the creation and enhancement of these sites and being able to explore and look for the wildlife that takes up residence in these areas.
Alasdair Lemon, Buglife Scotland Conservation Officer said “We are really excited to be able to continue working on our John Muir Pollinator Way project, Scotland’s first urban B-Line. It is fantastic that both the Scottish Government and Greggs Foundation have provided funding for this project, so that Buglife, CSGNT and partners are able to create and enhance grassland meadows for local communities to enjoy and most importantly to help our pollinators when they need it most.”
Keith Geddes, Chair of Central Scotland Green Network Trust has said “This is a fantastic project which will play a pivotal role in encouraging habitat connectivity for pollinators along the route. It will enhance the biodiversity and natural heritage of the area and bring environmental benefits to communities along the Way. CSGNT is committed to playing its part in this exciting project and it is a great way for communities to get involved and help to protect our environments for future generations.”
Tracy Lynch Greggs Foundation Manager ’We are so pleased that we have been able to support such a great project through one of our environmental grants funded by the 5p levy on carrier bags donated to us by Greggs plc. This project not only makes a real difference to the environment but also involves and benefits the wider community. It’s been fantastic to see this in action!’
Ms Mairi Gougeon, Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment has said that “The natural environment is one of Scotland’s greatest assets, and it’s one of the Scottish Government’s highest priorities that we make the most of the environmental, economic, health and wellbeing benefits that it provides. Pollinators make a vital contribution to biodiversity within that environment, and it’s essential that we do what we can to help them flourish. So it’s great to see initiatives like this one, helping to create ideal habitats for both pollinators and people.”
