Latest news with #pollinators
BBC News
a day ago
- Science
- BBC News
Schoolchildren from Guernsey create pollinator-friendly space
Schoolchildren in Guernsey have transformed an area of land into a pollinator-friendly learning space, teachers have said. Pupils aged between eight and 11 from St Martin's Primary School made the changes to St Martin's Meadow to attract pollinating insects and learn how important they are to the food the support of Angela Salmon from the Nature Commission, they surveyed the meadow and identified several native pollinator plants already present, which included vetch, creeping thistle, cat's ear and dock. They also added other native species to boost Giles, the school's head teacher, said the work "is a great example of what children can achieve when given the opportunity" and "will support both pollinators and learning for years to come". A path and central outdoor classroom were mown into the field, making the area more Slade, chief executive of Guernsey Housing Association, who provided access to the land, said: "It's a great opportunity to support learning, biodiversity and better outcomes for nature and the environment."We're proud to support such an inspiring initiative by making this land available. Otherwise, it would have been on a routine grounds maintenance programme."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Rare bee 'beach' habitat backed by sand donation
About 10 tonnes of sand have been donated to support ongoing work to create "bee beaches" in a Black Country nature reserve. The conservation effort is being carried out at Pelsall North Common in Walsall, with the sand being used to create a further two beaches in the reserve. It is part of the Purple Horizons Nature Recovery Project, led by Natural England. The work involves using diggers to remove vegetation and create bare ground areas - known as 'bee beaches' - which are crucial habitats for many threatened pollinators. The project, now in its second year, has created bee-friendly habitats across seven sites in the region. These are Shire Oak Park, Barr Beacon, Pelsall North Common, Chasewater Country Park, Brownhills Common, Wharf Lane and Muckley Corner. The sand used to create the newest two bee beaches was collected as part of ongoing work at Tamworth Road Narrows carried out by the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust. Derek Lord from the trust said they were proud to support "such an important conservation initiative" by repurposing excess sand excavated from the Lichfield Canal channel. "Creating sustainable habitats and enhancing biodiversity is one of our core aims," he said. "While our focus is obviously along the blue-green corridor of the Lichfield Canal it's a real bonus to be able to extend that impact to another location." Walsall councillor Gary Fling said: "This project continues to go from strength to strength and Walsall is proud to be playing its part in preserving and restoring these habitats." Bees spotted Purple Horizons is being delivered by a partnership between Walsall Council, Staffordshire County Council, Lichfield District Council, Natural England, University of Birmingham researchers, and the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust. Nationally, around 80% of heathlands have been lost since 1800 and globally the habitat is rarer than a tropical rainforest. Last year, two "near-threatened" species of bees were spotted thriving at Barr Beacon local nature reserve in Walsall thanks to the project. The discovery of the Cats Ear Mining Bee (Andrena humilis) and the Cats Ear Nomad Bee (Nomada integra) was made by Aaron Bhambra, a researcher at the University of Birmingham. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story Rare bee species found thriving in Walsall Birmingham named UK's first Nature City Warwickshire is the place to bee Wild flowers attract rare bees to urban common Something has gone wrong for insects, says charity Related internet links Natural England Walsall Council Purple Horizons University of Birmingham
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Rare bee 'beach' habitat in Walsall supported by sand donation
About 10 tonnes of sand have been donated to support ongoing work to create "bee beaches" in a Black Country nature conservation effort is being carried out at Pelsall North Common in Walsall, with the sand being used to create a further two beaches in the is part of the Purple Horizons Nature Recovery Project, led by Natural England. The work involves using diggers to remove vegetation and create bare ground areas - known as 'bee beaches' - which are crucial habitats for many threatened project, now in its second year, has created bee-friendly habitats across seven sites in the region. These are Shire Oak Park, Barr Beacon, Pelsall North Common, Chasewater Country Park, Brownhills Common, Wharf Lane and Muckley sand used to create the newest two bee beaches was collected as part of ongoing work at Tamworth Road Narrows carried out by the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Lord from the trust said they were proud to support "such an important conservation initiative" by repurposing excess sand excavated from the Lichfield Canal channel. "Creating sustainable habitats and enhancing biodiversity is one of our core aims," he said. "While our focus is obviously along the blue-green corridor of the Lichfield Canal it's a real bonus to be able to extend that impact to another location."Walsall councillor Gary Fling said: "This project continues to go from strength to strength and Walsall is proud to be playing its part in preserving and restoring these habitats." Bees spotted Purple Horizons is being delivered by a partnership between Walsall Council, Staffordshire County Council, Lichfield District Council, Natural England, University of Birmingham researchers, and the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife around 80% of heathlands have been lost since 1800 and globally the habitat is rarer than a tropical year, two "near-threatened" species of bees were spotted thriving at Barr Beacon local nature reserve in Walsall thanks to the discovery of the Cats Ear Mining Bee (Andrena humilis) and the Cats Ear Nomad Bee (Nomada integra) was made by Aaron Bhambra, a researcher at the University of Birmingham. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Workington moves to self-watering floral displays
A town is swapping traditional hanging baskets for self-watering ones to reduce its environmental Town Council has spent £4,500 replacing hanging baskets and containers in Workington town centre and hopes to replace all displays across its patch in the next two years, costing a further £14, authority has also implemented a sustainable planting scheme, meaning it prioritises plants that are beneficial to pollinators and bloom over extended seasons."This approach supports local wildlife whilst creating vibrant displays for residents and visitors to enjoy," a spokesman for the council said. They added the planters used a type of technology that reduced the amount of water needed for plants and flowers, reduced evaporation and increased storage capacity. The spokesman said: "This innovation will result in substantial savings in water usage, fuel consumption and labour costs."The authority has also shifted to using soil with less than 1% peat content, with a commitment to moving to peat-free displays by next year. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
France 24
20-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
A million people sign French petition against bringing back bee-killing pesticide
The so-called "Duplomb law" has stirred public anger for permitting a return of acetamiprid -- a chemical known to be toxic to pollinators such as bees and to ecosystems. It was adopted on July 8 but has not yet come into effect. A 23-year-old master's student launched the petition against the law on July 10, with support quickly snowballing with the backing of many including actors and several left-wing lawmakers. More than 500,000 people signed it in 24 hours from Saturday and Sunday alone. The law's proponents however argue farmers face too much regulation in France as is, and allowing them to use acetamiprid again would help reduce the constraints they face. National Assembly Speaker Yael Braun-Pivet on Sunday ruled out abandoning the legislation, named after the conservative lawmaker who proposed it, as it would "save a certain number of our farmers". The petition's author, Eleonore Pattery, who describes herself as "a future environmental health professional", called the new law a "scientific, ethical, environmental and public health aberration". "It represents a frontal attack on public health, biodiversity, the coherence of climate policies, food security, and common sense," she said. 'Bee killer' Acetamiprid has been banned in France since 2018, but remains legal within the European Union. The insecticide is particularly sought after by beet and hazelnut growers, who say they have no alternative against pests and face unfair competition. On the other hand, beekeepers have branded the chemical "a bee killer". Its effects on humans are also a source of concern but, in the absence of large-scale studies, its risks remain unclear. The petition calls for the "immediate repeal" of the law and a "citizen-led consultation involving health, agricultural, environmental and legal stakeholders". Petitions do not in themselves trigger a review or repeal of the legislation but unprecedented public support may prompt renewed parliamentary discussion on the matter. Under French rules, if a petition reaches 500,000 verified signatures, the National Assembly may choose to hold a public debate limited to the content of the petition itself. Speaker Braun-Pivet told the broadcaster franceinfo on Sunday she would be in favour of such a debate, but lawmakers "could not in any case go back on the law which has been voted through". In late June, ahead of the law's passage, several thousand demonstrators -- including farmers, environmental organisations and scientists -- rallied across France calling for the bill to be withdrawn.
