Letchworth has been officially recognised as a bee-friendly town.
The Bee Friendly Trust grants the Bee Friendly Awards to towns that are committed to protecting bees and raising awareness about their importance.
John O'Conner, North Herts Council's grounds maintenance contractor, spearheaded Letchworth's application for the award.
In the process, they established a bee corridor, helped residents grow their own bee-friendly plants and identified new areas for wildflower growth.
The bee corridor around the town - taking in places such as Howard Park, The Wynd, and the UK's first roundabout - included planting nectar-rich flowers to help bees buzz around more easily and increase their numbers. Roundabouts and grass verges have been replanted too.
Speaking after the award, Cllr Mick Debenham, North Herts Council’s executive member for environment, leisure & greenspaces, said: “This has been such a lovely community project which wouldn’t have happened without John O’Conner taking it forward and local people playing their part, so a big thanks goes to everyone who’s been involved.
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“Bees and other pollinators like butterflies and hoverflies are fundamental to our ecosystem and we cannot afford to lose them – 1 in 3 mouthfuls of food eaten worldwide is dependent on pollinators, from your morning cup of coffee to a lovely juicy apple!”
Karen Green, pest control manager at John O’Conner, added: “We are so proud to have been part of this amazing initiative. Everyone has worked so hard, and it has been a resounding success.
"However, when it really comes down to it, the real winners are the bees. They now have access to food and shelter and can move more freely around the local area. This will give them all they need to thrive and the town will be all the better for it. We hope to use Letchworth as a model for other towns and villages in North Herts.”
A further £10,000 has been allocated by the council to develop bee corridors in North Herts, with Royston next on the list.
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