Saving the small things that run the planetThe “Belfast’s Buzzing! Creating B-Lines for pollinators and people” project ran from July 2022-July 2024 and was Buglife’s first project in Northern Ireland to deliver B-Lines. The project aimed to restore 15 hectares of wildflower habitat in Belfast and support landowners to create wildflower habitat along the Belfast B-Lines.
Available to download: Belfast’s Buzzing – Creating Habitat for Pollinators in Community Spaces and Gardens
Quick Facts:
Buglife Northern Ireland worked in partnership with Belfast City Council, the National Trust, Belfast Zoo and local communities, to restore, create and enhance eight sites across Belfast. These sites included Clement Wilson Park, Minnowburn and Barnett Demesne, Lagan Lands East, Belmont Park, Lower Botanic and Tullycarnet Football Pitch.
Restoring habitat along the dedicated B-Lines to increase flower-rich habitat for pollinating insects has created habitat corridors and stepping-stones across the city, enabling pollinators to freely disperse and re-colonise the area and surrounding landscape. The majority of areas restored have a 10-year commitment from the landowners managing them to ensure the longevity of the project’s results.
Belfast’s Buzzing brought together communities across Belfast through a series of events, talks, bioblitz’s and volunteer conservation work parties. These events encouraged people to learn more about pollinators and what we can do to help them. A legacy of the project, that will continue to encourage action for pollinators, was the creation of the Belfast’s Buzzing pack. This online resource has information on pledges that can be made in your garden or community area to create habitat for pollinators.
Belfast’s Buzzing also facilitated internship placements for two students at Queens University. Both students completed 12-week placements, putting in a combined total of 748 hours, to develop new skills which they can use to benefit their future careers.
Create habitat in your community spaces and gardens and pledge to support pollinators with The Belfast’s Buzzing pack. The pack is full of resources and advice to help you get started. Don’t forget to add your pollinator friendly patches to our B-Lines map.
Take part in recording schemes, such as, 10-minute FIT counts and contribute to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and upload individual records to i-Record.
Or get in touch [email protected].
“Belfast’s Buzzing! ~ People & Pollinators in Belfast” is funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund,Milkywire, Whitemountain, NIEA, Belfast City Council and a number of small trusts.
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