Kent County Council (KCC) has been named a Bees’ Needs Champion by the government for its exceptional work in supporting pollinators.
The award recognises the council’s Plan Bee, a pollinator action plan that sets out how everyone in the county can help bees, wasps, butterflies, moths and other creatures essential to our biodiversity.
Plan Bee has led to changes in the way KCC manages its hedgerows, urban and rural vegetation to create better habitats for pollinators. It has also influenced land owners and developers to dedicate parts of their land to nature conservation, encouraging wild flowers to grow during the warmer months.
The strategy was formally adopted by the council in partnership with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT), which provides expert advice on how to carry out its aims. Other local authorities are now preparing to follow KCC’s footsteps and adopt pollinator action plans.
Chairman of Kent’s Plan Bee, Seán Holden, said: “Kent’s Plan Bee was started by me and KCC officer Allison Campbell-Smith in her spare time, with the aim of campaigning to improve habitats for pollinators.
“The strategy has led the way to us encouraging residents and businesses to do what they can to support these fantastic creatures.
“Be it keeping a window box or giving some of your land over to rewilding, we can all do something to support our vital pollinator friends. A third of all the food we eat comes to us through pollinators.”
Susan Carey Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment
KCC’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Susan Carey, said: “Kent’s Plan Bee has received a warm welcome across the county and thoroughly deserves this national award. I congratulate all those involved in the continuing success of this important strategy.”
CEO of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Gill Perkins, said: “Kent’s Plan Bee is a blueprint for other councils to follow. The project has highlighted the concern around pollinators and provided innovative and creative tools and activities for communities and people everywhere to help our declining wild bees and other pollinators by providing and promoting simple positive actions. It has been an overwhelming success, meeting ambitious targets and inspiring the people of Kent to act for pollinators. A wonderful outcome.”
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