Pollinator Preservation
Working together with County Councils saves bees, saves the Council £ 240,000 and inspires the public
CASE STAGE: Well established and running
LOCATION: Monmouthshire – Wales (UK)
POPULATION: 92,000
TRANSITION CONNECTION: Yes
GOVERNANCE: Not defined
Transition Towns in Monmouthshire meet quarterly with Monmouthshire County Council to explore areas where both parties would benefit. The Transition Towns wanted to provide more pollination friendly areas in the county.
The Council wanted to save expenditure. Transition Towns identified roundabouts and grass verges that would benefit from not being mowed and having native flowers seeded. Monmouthshire Council saw the financial benefit (£240,000 per annum) and identified more verges and roundabouts.
The Council funded flower seeds and Bee Friendly Monmouthshire involved. As a result many acres of grassland with flowers in very public areas were left unmown during summer months, increasing the area for pollinators, greatly enhancing the look of the surroundings engaging the general public, saving emissions from petrol mowers and their transport and saving the Council £240,000 annually.
Meetings are held quarterly to monitor progress – mowing and leaving cuttings causes over fertilisation leading to grass over competing with wild flowers; ensuring native wildflowers are planted.
DOMAINS: Sustainability, Pollinators
BENEFICIARIES: General
MiT note: Preserving bees in a transition context. No need for phase 2 (no specific framework identified for collaborating with the municipality). Not suitable for pilot (too specific intervention).
