EMERSONS Green’s Community Nature Reserve project has won an award for helping bees and other pollinators.
The Community Nature Reserve was set up in January of last year to encourage people to care for wildlife in gardens, parks, greens and verges across the area covered by the town council.
More than 240 residents signed up to make their homes part of the scheme, and can access advice at events and via a Facebook page, as well as a community seed bank at the library.
The project has now been recognised by the West of England Combined Authority, which presented a Bee Bold Award for community action to encourage pollinators.
Deputy mayor and chair of the town council’s climate and nature group Bobbie Sunderland said: “We are delighted that the Bee Bold Awards have recognised the benefits of this project.
“A number of other areas of South Glos have been encouraged to start their own Nature Reserve having seen what has been achieved in Emersons Green.”
Resident Helen Parker-Drabble’s garden was one of those visited by the Bee Bold team.
She said: “If everyone who had a garden did something for pollinators, we could make a massive difference.”
The award was presented to town council environmental services manager Paul Kearsley and Friends of Emersons Green Park deputy chair Sue Fenton by Metro Mayor Dan Norris at a ceremony held in Knowle in October.
The project was one of six from across the region singled out for outstanding effort to promote pollinators.
The Bee Bold Award was launched by WECA in 2022 to recognise organisations that are taking positive action to support bees and pollinators.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “Small and mighty bees play a huge part of keeping our environment and food supply going.
“The Bee Bold Awards are all about recognising the amazing work happening to make the West of England the UK’s Bee and Pollinator Capital.
“This year’s winners, from local community groups to global businesses, are taking vital action to see nature restored, reconnected, and recovering.”
WECA has a £1 million fund which has been used to engage more than 5,000 local volunteers and improve over 262 hectares of land for pollinators.
More information and a video on the Community Nature Reserve can be found on the town council’s website at tinyurl.com/vu5vapjx, where people can also sign up.
People who want to help encourage others to join the scheme can also email Bobbie at bobbie.sunderland@emersonsgreen-tc.gov.uk.
WECA has a page dedicated to the town council’s award at tinyurl.com/5ef4cspf.