Getting Whitleigh Buzzing

Buglife are looking for volunteers to help plant over 1800 wild flower plug plants at Whitleigh Meadow on Saturday 15 March.

The meadow is a part of the Plymouth's Buzzing project, funded by a grant of £45,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Over the last two years, Plymouth's Buzzing in partnership with Plymouth City Council has created nearly 6 hectares of wild flower meadow.

Rupert Goddard, Plymouth's Buzzing Project Officer said ‘Our pollinators are struggling due to lack of food and places to live. Plymouth's Buzzing has worked with schools across Plymouth to make school grounds 'pollinator friendly' and teach children about the importance of pollinators for a healthy environment and food production. We have created new meadows with local communities and left the parks of Plymouth buzzing places for bugs to feed and live in.

Cabinet member for the Environment, Councillor Brian Vincent said: "This is important work - a small change locally can make all the difference. We may be a city but we have plenty of green space which we are making more enticing for our bug buddies! What's more this sort of volunteer work is great fun and a fantastic way for people to get to know each other and do something that's good for the environment ."

Commenting on the project, HLF's Head of South West, Nerys Watts, said: "We are keen to encourage work that will directly and measurably help to protect our natural heritage for future generations to benefit from and enjoy. The Plymouth's Buzzing project is providing wonderful opportunities for people to learn about and, in a very practical way, care for the natural world that surrounds them."

If you would like to help create Whitleigh Meadow, please contact Rupert Goddard at Buglife on 01752 253087, email rupert.goddard@buglife.org.uk

Planting will take place from 11am on Saturday 15 March on the greenspace between Berwick Avenue and Bodmin Road.