WORK will begin on an exciting project to protect and reintroduce pollinators in Copeland this week.
Volunteers are urged to take part in bulb planting sessions across Whitehaven and Distington as part of the £1.6 million ‘Get Cumbria Buzzing’ project which aims to tackle a decline in bees and other pollinators.
Copeland Council, a partner in the three-year project, has received £60,000 to create havens for insects spanning almost 10,000 square metres.
The council earmarked six sites in the Whitehaven and Distington area which will provide the natural habitats needed to ensure local wildlife thrives. These are areas in, or near to, Castle Park, Trinity Gardens, Pow Beck, Mirehouse, Whitehaven Cemetery (all in Whitehaven) and Distington Hall Gardens.
Together they will create a series of pollinator friendly stepping stones across Whitehaven and Distington. This will help increase connectivity enabling insects other wildlife to move more freely throughout the area and across North West Cumbria.
Copeland Council is working with two other partners on the project – Cumbria Wildlife Trust and National Trust – to organise bulb planting sessions for the first phase of the project. Sessions will take place:
- September 28, 10am to 12pm and 1.30pm to 3pm at Ennerdale Road, Distington. Run by Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Over 18s only. Pre-booking essential. To book email admin@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk or call 01539 816300 by midday on September 27.
- October 1, 9am to 1pm at Meadow Road, Mirehouse, Whitehaven. Run by Copeland Council. All ages welcome.
- October 3, 9am to 1pm at Mirehouse Road, Mirehouse, Whitehaven. Run by Copeland Council. All ages welcome.
- October 21, 1pm to 3pm at Solway Road, Kells, Whitehaven. Run by National Trust. All ages welcome.
To pre-register for the sessions on October 1 and 3 call Copeland Council on 01946 593012/593031 or email openspaces@copeland.gov.uk.
Get Cumbria Buzzing in North West Cumbria aims to get parks, school grounds and other green spaces around Whitehaven, Workington and Maryport buzzing with bees and pollinators thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The ground-breaking project will see Cumbria Local Nature Partnership work with Highways England and Cumbria Wildlife Trust to get local people buzzing with activity to boost numbers of bumblebees and other wild pollinators and halt their decline.
You can find out more about the Get Cumbria Buzzing project at http://bit.ly/cumbria-buzz
