Tower and Town, October 2015

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Bee Pewsey Project Is Causing Quite A Buzz

Helping to protect and promote pollinator populations across the Pewsey Vale.

The Pewsey Environment Action Team (PEAT), with support from beekeeping expert Justin Rigg, has launched a pilot initiative to establish a network of community hives, focusing on bee breeding, to try and increase numbers of the vital pollinators in the area.

According to the recently published National Pollinator Strategy, habitat loss, pests and diseases, climate change and changes in agricultural practices have all resulted in a decline of pollinators, something which has a direct impact on the state of the countryside and the UK food industry.

Having secured North Wessex Area of Oustanding National Beauty (AONB) funding and been donated land by St Francis School, preparation of the site is underway and Bee Pewsey will be up and running early next year with the bees arriving April/May 2016. The bees will then be tended to by a team of trained Bee Pewsey volunteers, before being divided and sold to neighbouring parishes next season.

But it’s not just bees that are at threat. Other wild pollinators, including butterflies and hoverflies, are dwindling too. That is why the Bee Pewsey project will also be looking out for these species through wildlife-focused planting and awareness-raising open days.

For more information or to support the Bee Pewsey project contact Chris Body: chris.beepewsey@zen.co.uk

Pewsey Environment Action Team (PEAT)