A local initiative, Beelines North East, is aiming to create and connect green spaces across the region with the launch of its new 'Nature Network' campaign, encouraging people to help preserve their local areas and to protect pollinators.
Beelines, which is funded by the Green Recovery Challenge Fund and overseen by Urban Green Newcastle and Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT), will develop the Nature Network project through working with landowners, local authorities, businesses, and communities to create pollinator-rich sites across Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, and Northumberland.
Alongside the green spaces in people’s homes and gardens, Beelines North East is looking to create 45 nectar-rich public sites, with the aim of planting 2,500 trees, 25,000 bulbs, and creating 18 hectares of grassland. The campaign will encourage and educate communities to explore and maintain their local green spaces, whilst creating pollinator-friendly environments in their own homes. These can range from a patch in a garden, to a window or balcony box, with the goal being to provide clear paths for bees and other pollinators to travel across urban areas more easily.
To achieve this, Beelines North East is partnering with local community groups and organisations across the region including; Great North Children’s Hospital, YMCA, Healthworks, Foundation Futures, Kids Kabin, Scotswood Gardens, and The John Bostey, as well as several primary schools across the city. Beelines will provide educational resources, events, and activities to help people learn about pollinators and how their own green spaces will benefit the creatures and their community in the long term.
As part of the roll out, Beelines have provided local organisations with information about the initiative – offering activities and details around pollinators they can look out for in their own gardens and outdoor spaces. Activities include; creating a DIY bee hotel using bamboo, native wildflower seeds to create a wildflower meadow, making pollinator pebbles with rocks and paint pens, a pollinator pine cone craft activity with pipe cleaners, planting daffodil bulbs, and crafting bee badges.
Ed Chivers, Project Manager of Beelines North East said: “We are excited to be launching our Nature Network campaign and working with people and organisations across our region to help bring their green spaces together and make them a place for them and pollinators to enjoy.
“Pollinators and nature have a huge part to play in our health, happiness, and economic welfare. Autumn is a crucial time in prepping green spaces for when pollinators re-emerge in the spring, so now is the time to work together to make sure that we create and improve spaces that will continue to benefit us for the long term.”
With ‘Nature Network’, Beelines North East aims to help people understand the value of nature and encourage them to act, reconnect with the outdoors, and help create green spaces that allow pollinators to thrive.