Several schools and community groups have been given the resources and support they need to create flower strips to make their grounds more wildlife-friendly and attractive to people and will be given advice and activities to monitor the wildlife that visits. The flower beds have been sown with a special blend of seeds that is being trialled on the Island to ensure it has maximum benefit to wildlife, whilst being beautiful, easy to care for, and able to be grown in a nature-friendly way by being peat and pesticide free.
Manx Wildlife Trust volunteers have also harvested seeds and grown plants from native Manx wildflowers to share with island-wide community projects. Additionally, the project will share resources and advice for residents on how to support pollinators at all stages of their life cycle in their own gardens and communities.
CEO of Manx Wildlife Trust, Graham Makepeace-Warne, says: ‘This project blends education and action, to deliver a wonderful mix of horticulture, nature conservation and enhanced places for people to enjoy. Throughout spring and summer, we will be sharing tips on how to support pollinators, what to plant and add to gardens and community spaces, and simple things to start or stop doing that could make a big difference. Thanks to support from Ørsted, we have also been able to offer several schools and community projects the opportunity to create a nature-friendly flower area for people and wildlife to enjoy. The team at Manx Wildlife Trust often gets asked for Manx wildflower seed, and, although we don’t currently have a local supply of native Manx wildflowers, we have had a long-held ambition to see an Isle of Man recommended seed mix that is suited to Manx soil and doesn’t compete with our naturally occurring native wildflowers. This project is an excellent opportunity to continue to develop such a mix, and we are delighted to collaborate with schools and community groups to create flower patches in multiple locations across the Island.’
Samir Whitaker, Biodiversity Lead Specialist at Ørsted, says: ‘Pollinators are among the most important animals on earth. By supporting this strand of Manx Wildlife Trust’s Make Space for Nature project, we hope that people across the Isle of Man will have the tools to support pollinators in their own lives and enjoy the benefits they bring. We wish the schools, residential homes, and community groups taking part in the seed trial the best of luck in their important research!’
For more information on this project, or to request some Manx-grown plants to support your community garden, visit www.mwt.im/pollinators