Have you heard the buzz in Knutsford? They won a Bees Needs Award!
Knutsford is a close-knit community in the heart of Cheshire where you'll find a dedicated group of people committed to bringing nature into the town. They have chosen to start their mission with bees!
Five members of the Nature Action Plan Working Group. Left to right: Katie Claque, Kevin Griffiths, Cllr April Johnson, Cllr Rex Mears, Malcolm Thomas. Taken by Bob Allen, Deputy Town Clerk of Knutsford Town Council
Where it all began
At the heart of this mission is the Town Council's Nature Action Plan. Our Communications and Marketing Officer, Emily Lake, recently met with resident Kevin Griffiths and town councillor April Johnson from the Nature Action Plan working group to learn more about their work.
We hadn't even reached the Moor from the car park when we were stopped by some local residents eager to tell April how much they love the Bee Trail and how it is now a regular route for their daily dog walks.
Asking Kevin and April why they chose to start with a bee trail, the answer was simple: bees and other pollinators are crucial to nature, and nature is vital for our health and well-being, making it a win-win for both the environment and people in the town.
There was a debate in Knutsford about whether to spray footpaths with herbicide to maintain clear walkways. This divisive issue sparked a wider discussion about the adverse effects of herbicide use and the importance of protecting nature. The working group decided that the best way to promote the issues was to showcase the town's best sites for pollinators through a walking trail, complete with explanatory notices along the route. Thus, planning began in earnest on the Bee Trail.
The facts speak for themselves with the UK being home to 270 species of bee, 24 of which are bumblebees. We do have a rare native dark honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) however it is likely that the honey bees you see will be the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) and the remaining 250+ species are solitary bees.
A Furry Drone Fly (bee mimic) on Meadow Sweet on the Moor section of the Bee Trail. Taken by Kevin Griffiths
Launching the Bee Trail
The Bee Trail had its official launch in May of this year. The walking trail links key wildlife sites, wildflower meadows, bulb-planting areas, and local green spaces—including private gardens—to create a pollinator superhighway throughout the town centre and surrounding residential areas.
For example, Queens Street was included since the residents allow Welsh Poppies and Bellflowers to thrive in the cracks between their walls and the pavement outside their properties, resulting in a highway for pollinators and a burst of colour that brightens the day for everyone who walks along it.
"What will you do for Pollinators?" pledge board at the Bee Trail launch event. Taken by Terry Griffiths
The launch event saw the community come together to celebrate all things bee-related, featuring bakers, crafts, educational talks, and even opportunities for children to dress up!
Knutsford Guardian article on the launch of the Bee Trail
Kevin noted that several local businesses had got involved by stocking leaflets with information and maps of the trail, with the sweet shop even featured bees in their shop window display. Furthermore the working group intend to ask the bookshop to stock books on bees and other pollinators.
A large map of the trail was installed at the Moor, and 22 information signs are dotted along the route. The 3.5-mile route can also be broken down into shorter walks to make it as accessible as possible for everyone.
Map illustrated and designed by Lyndsey Keppel-Green
Local resident and illustrator Lyndsey Keppel-Green designed the eye-catching signs and leaflets, while Kevin Griffiths collaborated with other working group members to write the informative content.
On the Town Council website, residents can learn more about the Bee Trail and pledge to "Bee a Hero" by taking steps to support pollinators in their gardens or green spaces.
Get in touch with Knutsford Town Council’s Nature Action Plan working group
Although discussions about managing the condition of footpaths continue, those involved in the Bee Trail have observed a positive impact on the community. However, they recognise that more work is needed to change people's minds about allowing messy spaces for nature to flourish.
The award
The Bees' Needs Champion Award is a DEFRA prize and was presented to the town by the Minister for Nature, Mary Creagh, at Kew Gardens in London in July this year.
Award received at Kew Gardens. Left to right: Cllr Rex Mears, Cllr April Johnson, Kevin Griffiths. Taken by Terry Griffiths
Knutsford hopes that receiving recognition from DEFRA will inspire other communities across Cheshire and beyond to create their own bee trails, bringing colour and pollinators to other towns.
Knutsford Guardian article about the Bees Needs Award
“We have seen a noticeable increase in the number of bees and other insects since establishing the Bee Trail, especially at the local allotments.”
Cllr April Johnson
If you're inspired to start a similar initiative in your town, feel free to reach out to us or the working group, who would love to assist other towns in developing their own bee trails.
Get in touch with Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Here are their top tips on what we can all do to help bees and other pollinators:
- You can leave some piles of leaves or twigs in your garden for bees and other pollinators to live
- You can plant some native wildflowers in your garden or at school
- You can leave a shallow dish of water with some stones in it for bees and other pollinators to access water safely
- You can avoid spraying chemicals onto your garden
- You can buy organic fruit and vegetables in your local shops
- You can bee untidy and leave an area or corner of your garden with longer grass, brambles, twigs for bees and pollinators to thrive
- You can buy or make some bee or insect boxes
The best plants for bees and pollinators
The Knutsford Town Council Nature Action Plan has a four-year strategy to promote different habitats and iconic species that use them, with ponds and frogs being next on their list. Then, in the third year, the group will stretch their wings, highlighting birds, and in the fourth year, it will be the hedgehog's turn.
Yet, they are not done with the Bee Trail and have written to DEFRA in the hopes of establishing a national bee trail, and I can see this work continuing long into the future and spreading out into wider Cheshire.