Garnock’s Buzzing

This exciting new project will transform amenity grassland in North Ayrshire into areas for pollinators with the help and support of local communities.

Garnock’s Buzzing is a three year meadow creation project that is part of the larger and RSPB-led initiative Garnock Connections – located in North Ayrshire. Garnock Connections is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Garnock’s Buzzing is a partnership project between Buglife, North Ayrshire Council, Scottish Wildlife Trust and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).

Through this project Buglife will work with partners to transform amenity grassland and road verges into species-rich meadows. As well as the creation of meadows, additional habitat for pollinators will be created through the planting of flowering shrubs and the installation of bee banks (for ground nesting solitary bees and wasps) and bee hotels in schools and community gardens. These enhanced areas will provide important forage and nesting habitat for a range of pollinators and the addition of colour to the landscape will enrich the lives of people who regularly use and visit these transformed areas. Species rare in Scotland that may benefit through this project include the Small blue butterfly (Cupido minimus), Northern colletes bee (Colletes floralis) and Hairy-saddled colletes bee (Colletes fodiens).

Communities will be invited to participate in the planning, creation and monitoring of the meadows. Events (including walks and workshops) will raise awareness of the importance of these habitats and our pollinators, train people how to identify species, encourage the monitoring of the meadows and other created habitat that will ensure a legacy of the project.

For more information on how to get involved with this project please get in touch with Suzanne Burgess at [email protected] and 01786 447504

An Introduction to Pollinators

Garnock’s Buzzing is funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Green Infrastructure Community Engagement Fund.

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