Since the 1940’s large-scale changes in land use has resulted in a 97% loss of wildflower-rich meadows in the UK.
But, a new project, York’s Buzzing, to be launched this week by environmental charity Buglife, in partnership with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, City of York Council, and York Friends of the Earth will transform an area 50 times the size of York Minster’s nave, into vibrant meadows buzzing with wildlife and rich with colourful wildflowers that both people and pollinators can enjoy.
This exciting York-wide project will help to reverse the loss of this precious habitat which has contributed to decline in over two thirds of UK pollinators, including many species of butterfly, moth, hoverfly and bumblebee.
York’s Buzzing will be turning many of York’s grassy acres into wildflower-rich sanctuaries for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects, restoring 7.4 hectares of wildflower meadows at 8 sites across the city, including the Bar Walls, parts of West Bank Park and Monk Stray and around the Millennium Bridge.
As well as bringing a Buzz to the city the project will also provide more vital homes and habitat for other wildlife.
Councillor Sonja Crisp, City of York Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said: “This is a fantastic project which builds on our commitment to further improve our parks and open spaces by supporting pollinators with a greater diversity of wildflowers. York’s Buzzing is worth backing.”
Speaking on behalf of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Conservation Officer Sara Robin, said “We are thrilled to be part of this wonderful project that will see beautiful wild flower meadows planted across the city of York.”
These buzzing meadows will be a beautiful asset to the city for everyone to use and enjoy. Buglife and its partners want everyone in York to get involved in supporting and creating these meadows, and so we need your help!
Buglife has acquired funding of £20,000 to get the project off the ground but is also hoping to raise funds from the people of York and from local businesses to complete its goals.
Vicky Kindemba, Conservation Delivery Manager for Buglife, who is leading the project, said “This is a great project for the City of York and we hope that local residents, visitors and businesses will engage with it and also help us with our further fundraising.
