We are delighted to have allocated more than a quarter of our Community Garden site for the creation of pollinator habitat and to make space for nature. The surrounding area is renowned for its solitary mining bee population and has recently been the subject of an extensive ecological improvement project, led by Lichfield District Council and Natural England.
What is the Solitary Mining Bee
Mining bees are a type of solitary bee, meaning they do not form colonies like honeybees or bumblebees. Instead, the female bees build individual nests and collect pollen for their young. Although they are solitary, many nests may be concentrated in a small area, giving the impression of social activity.
Mining bees vary in size, ranging from 5-17mm long, and are easily identified by the grooves running down the inside of their eyes, known as facial fovea. This is a characteristic that no other bee in the UK has. Like bumblebees, mining bees collect pollen on their hind legs.
How we're providing habitat
We're creating pollinator habitat by leaving much of the unused area of the site to grow naturally, encouraging the development of a wildflower meadow. This will provide a rich source of pollen and nectar for pollinators, allowing them to quickly and efficiently fly from flower to flower and collect a full load of pollen and nectar to take back to their nests.
By allowing the rest of the site to return to its natural state, we can increase biodiversity, aid in the pollination of our vegetables, fruits and plants, and provide a home for beneficial creepy crawlies.
What this means for Plotholders
We kindly ask our Plotholders to help us by staying off the pollinator habitat and avoiding the use of pesticides that are harmful to bees.
As the habitat develops, and the wildflowers bloom we will install signage around the dedicated area to prevent any accidental damage
Will more garden plots be made available?
We have the capacity to expand our community gardens and are aiming to provide an additional 20 garden plots for next year. If you would like to reserve one of these plots, please complete the application form found on our website.
If you have any questions or need to get in touch, you can contact us at wharfside@triviumland.co.uk