Bath City Farm has been awarded a £50,000 grant from the West of England Combined Authority as part of a project to help pollinators.
Photo © Bath City Farm
The money will enable the charity to create a mosaic of habitats to provide year-round feeding, breeding and shelter for pollinators.
The project, which will take 12 months to complete, will positively impact 16 acres of the farm’s 37-acre site.
Plans include the creation of new habitats including wildflower meadows, species-rich grassland, woodland ground flora, flowering trees, hedgerow, a wildflower nursery and community garden areas.
Bath City Farm will also create a 60-metre bee and butterfly bank within the late flowering wildflower meadow and multiple bug hotels around the site.
A thousand bulbs as well as plugs and seeds will be planted across half an acre of community gardens. These will enhance the supply of nectar at a critical time of the year from January to May.
A new nature trail is also planned that people can follow using a printed guide and newly created interpretation boards.
Most of the work for the project will be carried out as part of volunteer sessions to provide social and learning opportunities.
The plants and trees selected are native or are otherwise beneficial to wildlife and include snowdrop, bluebell, honeysuckle, hawthorn, sycamore, blossoming cherry and crab apple, hazel, wild pear, nettle-leaved bellflower and wild strawberry.
The team at Bath City Farm have teamed up with other local ecological organisations and groups to gain advice and support for the project including Avon Wildlife Trust and Bathscape.
Farm Director, Brendan Tate-Wistreich said: “This funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority will be a huge boost for wildlife on the Farm and the people who come to enjoy the Farm’s wild spaces.
“This will help us transform the mosaic of habitats over the coming years with new trees, hedgerow, wildflower areas, and species rich grassland increasing biodiversity and climate resilience.
“We are committed to supporting the region’s climate strategy and we are excited to share learning with others working towards this shared goal.”
