Volunteers from Abergavenny Transition Town rolled up their sleeves and returned to nature last weekend (28/29th March) to give bees and butterflies a helping hand in the grounds of the town’s Castle Museum.
They had successfully applied for National Garden Centre vouchers worth £150 which bought pollinator-friendly wildflower seeds, tools and garden gloves. The vouchers were spent at Abergavenny Garden Centre, benefiting a locally-owned business.
The volunteers were joined by over 230 applicants from across Wales who applied for free National Garden Centre vouchers as part of Keep Wales Tidy’s ‘Have a Wild Weekend for Wales’ campaign.
Funded by Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales and the proceeds from the single use carrier bag charge, the aim of the campaign was to encourage people to improve food sources and natural habitat for pollinators in Wales.
During Wild Weekend the volunteers stripped turf from two large areas alongside the walls, prepared the beds and sowed seed to help create two wildflower habitats which will burst into colour in time for summer.
Megan de Silva of Monmouthshire Museums Service said:
“It was great to see so many volunteers and young people involved in this project. ‘Wild Weekend’ has enabled us to make a huge improvement to the pollen and nectar on offer in Abergavenny and hopefully this will benefit our local environment and wildlife.”
Lesley Jones, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said:
“I am delighted that so many groups across Wales were involved to help our pollinators and their natural environment. They have planted new flowering plants to attract our bees and butterflies as well as giving existing habitats a helping hand. Keep Wales Tidy would like to thank the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales for all their support, ensuring that the ‘Wild Weekend for Wales’ has been a great success for people across Wales!”
For more information on improving pollinator conditions in your area, or to get involved with volunteering and fundraising for Keep Wales Tidy contact: [email protected] or visit the website www.keepwalestidy.org.
