14th November 2018
After being awarded Green Flag status earlier this year for the first time, the Countess of Chester Country Park has now been a recipient of a Bees’ Needs award.
The award celebrates the work of Green Flag Awarded sites that make positive changes to encourage pollinators and support them with habitats and food sources. This was achieved by volunteers who worked with local partners on the Pollinators in the Park project.
This project ensured pollen was provided to bees from February to October through the planting of high quality flower-rich meadows, an orchard, hedgerows, woodland and wetland areas in the park.
The project also helps pollinators survive through the winter with the construction of bug hotels and by carefully ensuring nest sites are undisturbed through the winter months. These tasks were carried out by local schoolchildren, university students and volunteers from the community as part of a busy activity schedule that takes place at the park.
The Friends of Countess of Chester Country Park also have four Wildlife Champions, trained by the Chester Zoo ‘Wildlife Connections’ initiative, who have been working to help deliver the project. Chester Zoo’s team have taught the group about the risk of extinction to bees and how they can measure the impact of their work with the RECORD team.
Land trust Estates Manager, Sarah Palgrave-Neath shared her delight on winning the award, saying “It’s fantastic to receive this award for the hard work that volunteers and the community have put in to the Pollinators in the Park project.
“Since the Land Trust took on the site in 2014 it has become a shining example of how a community has come together to improve the wildlife and increase biodiversity and activity in this urban retreat.
“More surveys are planned for 2019 to find out more about the species living in the park. There will be many opportunities for people to get involved in activities to both help create habitats and measure the impact.”
Anyone who is interested in taking part can find out more on the Land Trust website or the Countess of Chester Country Park Facebook page.
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