RugBEE - we're pollinator friendly
Bees and other pollinators play an essential role in our environment, our economy and boosting bio-diversity.
We have thousands of pollinator species in the UK, including bumblebees, beetles, moths and butterflies, but populations remain under threat from loss of habitats and climate change.
Rugby Borough Council has adopted a Pollinator Friendly Policy to increase the number of grass meadows across the borough. The policy supports the Government's National Pollinator Strategy and our commitment to tackle climate change.
The policy aims to:
- make Rugby a bee-friendly borough
- create suitable habitats for pollinators in every council ward while improving connectivity between habitats
- boost biodiversity across the borough
- reduce the borough's carbon footprint
By creating grass meadows, we can increase the number of plant species in the borough, developing new habitats to support pollinating insects.
Grass meadows also support other wildlife, including birds, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals, such as field mice and voles.
And leaving grass to grow boosts the soil's ability to capture carbon - protecting and enhancing our environment.
How you can BEE a pollinator friend
You can play a part in helping to make Rugby pollinator friendly.
Here's five simple steps you can take:
1. Grow more flowers, shrubs and trees - we need more plants rich in pollen and nectar, feeding pollinators throughout the year.
2. Let it grow - leave patches of garden to grow wild, creating food sources and breeding places for butterflies and moths.
3. Slow mow - cut grass less often and remove the cuttings to allow plants to flower.
4. Do not disturb - insects nest and hibernate in grass margins, bare soil, hedgerows, trees, dead wood and walls. Do not disturb or destroy nesting and hibernation spots.
5. Pause before using pesticides - consider alternative measures before using pesticides, particularly near active pollinators or flowering plants.
You can find out more about BEEcoming a pollinator friend from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.