And finally… all abuzz

Biodiversity is the name of the game these days, and City of York Council has launched the Buzz About York campaign to help wildlife flourish across the patch.

CoYC said that it is trialling sustainable planting in flowerbeds with long-lasting, perennial plants that will provide a good source of nectar for bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

This will increase biodiversity, provide habitats for insects and other wildlife, including our crucial bees, reduce CO2 emissions and reduce waste by using perennial plants rather than annual bedding plants; and promote sustainable landscapes.

The new planting can be seen in Duncombe Place, Blake Street and Station Rise, marked with the green ‘Buzz About York’ sign.

Falling into step with the national “no mow May” movement, the local authority is also introducing a reduced mowing programme in trial areas, following guidance from Plantlife and The Wildlife Trusts.

Cllr Jenny Kent, executive member for environment and climate emergency at City of York Council, said:

“We are excited that Buzz About York will help make our city a place for Nature to thrive, and hope everyone will take part. The plants have been chosen to feed our pollinators – vital to the wellbeing of our native species and food crops – and with the aim of being able to do well through our increasingly long spells of rain and drought.”