Bee Friendly Tring

Threat to pollinators

UK insect populations have suffered badly over the last fifty years or so as a result of changes in land use as a consequence of modern farming methods, urban spread and new transport links. Reductions in pollen and nectar sources have led to a serious decline in the wildlife depending on wildflower-rich habitat. It has been predicted that 40-70% of species could go extinct if action is not taken (www.buglife.org.uk). Efforts to support bees in Tring have led to the town becoming one of the first in the country to be officially named a ‘Bee Friendly Town’.

What can we do?

One of the ways to help pollinators is to create a long season of pollinator-friendly flowers and blossom. Reducing the mowing of roadside verges allows flowers to thrive and provide sources of nectar and pollen. One of the aims of such regimes is to reduce the levels of grasses and encourage wildflowers. To do this it is important to remove the cuttings to avoid ‘feeding’ the soil. We have been able to implement this by ensuring spaces are uncut throughout the summer followed by cutting/scything and removal of cuttings, for example at the churchyard behind St Peter & St Paul’s Church and the former allotment site at New Mill.

Being awarded Bee Friendly Town status is thanks to the combined effort of individuals, local authorities, schools, churches and businesses. But the work is not done: we need to keep making changes and improvements to our local environment. We are pleased to report that the work continues with an initiative to create pollinator friendly planting at Tring Station and ongoing collaborations, such as with the Natural History Museum in Tring and local schools. As individuals we have a role to play too. You may well be doing a lot for wildlife already, in which case, great! But if you’d like to do more, here are some ideas:

• Stop using weedkiller and pesticides.
• Leave at least part of the lawn uncut between February and September.
• Grow pollinator friendly plants, wildflowers and trees.
• Create habitats for pollinators: leaf piles and bug houses.
• Write to the government to stop the use of neonicotinoids.
• Take part in citizen science projects to record data about insects.

Improved cutting regimes

The Justice & Peace Group have campaigned local government and authorities responsible for mowing road-side verges and public green spaces. To date, six areas around Tring have implemented modified cutting regimes to allow the grass to be left uncut for longer periods to create habitats for pollinators and other wildlife. This is an ongoing aspect of our work.

To find out more about the Bee Friendly Trust and the Bee Friendly Town Awards visit The Bee Friendly Trust website, by clicking on the image below.

Click the poster above to sign our petition and find out more about pesticides

The status of Bee Friendly Town was granted by the Bee Friendly Trust in May 2022. Tring being one of six towns to receive the accolade nationally. The Bee Friendly Trust launched the scheme – which aims to transform concrete jungles into wildlife havens – in 2021, with the first awards granted on World Bee Day, 20 May 2022. There are criteria that towns have to meet in order to attain ‘Bee Friendly’ status. Dr Luke Dixon, co-founder of the Bee Friendly Trust, said, ‘The Bee Friendly Town Awards celebrate the coming together of communities for the important cause of saving the nation’s bees and pollinators. By increasing wildlife habitats in towns, not only are communities providing forage spots and shelters for nature but they are also making their towns greener, friendlier and more uplifting places to live. This year’s winners were chosen for their creative and collaborative approaches to making their towns Bee Friendly. We hope they will provide inspiration for other towns to do their bit and to enter the competition next year.’

The Justice & Peace Group began the ‘Make Tring a Bee Town’ campaign back in 2020 and what started out as a few lone voices has turned into a huge community effort with many different initiatives to make more pollinator friendly spaces in our town and the surrounding villages. Through lots of hard work from members of the Group, Tring Town Council and Dacorum Council, schools an individuals a community effort has brought about improved habitats. Individuals have taken action within their gardens by taking part in No Mow May, thinking about the types of flowers they plant and creating nesting spaces with leaf piles and bug hotels. In order to promote the campaign, the Justice & Peace Group have held a number of promotional events in the town, both physical and online – perhaps you have met us at the Summer Carnival, Apple Day or Blossom Day? During these events we have given out wildflower seeds, built bug hotels and provided leaflets with planting ideas for the garden.

The certificate awarded to Tring was presented to the Mayor at an official ceremony at the Tring Summer Carnival. The Group continues to encourage Tring residents to grow pollinator friendly plants in their own gardens by handing out free seed and plants as well as leaving areas of unmown grass to allow wild flowers to grow and seed as well other areas of campaigning.