A west Dorset town has been awarded ‘bee friendly status.’
Following plenty of hard work from community groups and local people, Bridport has been given the title of a ‘bee friendly town.’
Residents have been keeping up the good work by swapping seeds and plants, and a bee circus has performed at Bridport Community Orchard.
A spokesperson for Bee Friendly Bridport said: “The highlight of the year is the Bridport Bee Hotel Trail which was kindly sponsored by Bredy Vets.
“People can follow the trail around town, spotting the solitary bee houses and checking if they are inhabited by bees, maps are available to download or pick up from the venues featured on our website.”
The community had to meet a specific criteria in order to be in a position to apply for this title.
The objective is to create more safe planting for pollinators that is free of any pesticides and additionally increase habitat around the town and in people’s gardens.
The award celebrates the habitat-forming initiatives that create new homes for wildlife, showcasing the collaborations that are helping to extend pollinator pathways across the nation and people making positive change happen.
The spokesperson added: “The public have really engaged with the project with donations of bee suites to facilitate a beekeeping club at Symondsbury Primary School, as well as chatting enthusiastically at some of the events we have attended, including the Melplash Show, the Charter Fair and the Green Fair.
“So many local community groups are finding ways to support our essential pollinators, to help stop their decline in numbers. Winning this award really puts the issue into the spotlight, we can all help keep Bridport Bee Friendly - We look forward to sharing the trophy with the bee hotel hosts throughout the year.”
Elsewhere in Dorset, Wimborne also has bee friendly status and was one of the first six towns to receive this title.
A total of nine towns around the UK were granted this status for 2024.
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