Noel O'Hara’s Post

🌼🐝 Exciting News for a Bee-Friendly Cannock Chase! 🐝🌼 Cannock Chase District Council has taken a significant step towards making their district more bee-friendly! 🏞️🌻 In a recent council meeting, it was unanimously agreed to review and implement "bee-friendly practices" throughout the community. Here's what they are planning: 🌸 No More Insecticides: They are encouraging all residents to avoid using insecticides in their gardens to protect our precious pollinators. 🌼 No Mow May: Participating in this annual initiative means leaving some grass areas uncut to promote wildflower growth and provide vital habitats for bees. Councillor Andrea Muckley, who presented the motion, passionately stated, "We can make a difference; we can take a stand, we can save the bees in Cannock Chase District and, in turn, help ourselves." Councillor Jo Elson, who seconded the motion, highlighted the fantastic work done in Stafford, recently awarded Bee Friendly Town status. The aim is to: 🌺 Encourage the growth of more flowers, shrubs, and trees to provide nectar and pollen. 🤝 Support community groups to enhance local spaces with bee-friendly practices. 🌷 Inspire residents to sow wildflower seeds and plant bee-friendly flora. Councillor Elson emphasised the need for better publicity for future "No Mow May" campaigns to ensure residents understand and support these initiatives. "By making bee-friendly changes we could ensure that the whole mind-set of the council is changed; that nature and the environment become a central thread in our future decisions," Ms. Elson said. Together, we can create a thriving environment for bees and enrich our community! 🌻🐝 #BeeFriendly #CannockChase #NoMowMay #SaveTheBees #CommunityInitiatives #EnvironmentalAwareness Article link: https://lnkd.in/eVb-mzuh

#DidYouKnow Pollinator Week is June 17-23! Just like how pollinators help plants reproduce, pollinators do the same for our trees. Without pollinators, there would be a lot fewer fruiting and flowering trees. One easy way to support Charlotte’s tree canopy is to create a pollinator garden. This is particularly helpful if you can't plant trees because you live in an apartment, or your community already has an abundance of trees, or you have a small space that can’t fit a tree. You can find more information on pollinator gardens at: https://lnkd.in/gtHUQJZX Another simple way to support Charlotte's tree canopy? Sign our pledge to protect our city's iconic trees at CharlotteWithoutTrees.org! #Pollinators #PollinatorWeek #CanopyConservation #TreeConopyCLT #TreesCLT #CharlotteWithoutTrees

🐝🌷As we continue celebrating Pollinator Awareness Week, check out our latest article, "Creating a Hospitable Yard for Pollinators: A Guide to Supporting Nature's Essential Workers." Learn how to make a difference in your backyard by providing a safe haven for bees, butterflies, and other vital pollinators. 🐝🌿 #PollinatorAwarenessWeek

October has been an interesting month for grasslands. Wera Hobhouse MP tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) on the 8 October, Value of Grasslands, asking that: ✅ the value of nature-rich grasslands and the people who manage them, from meadows and pastures, to road verges and community grassland green spaces is acknowledged; ✅ and recognition that a strategic approach by Government is needed to make the most of this multifunctional national asset in order to support nature recovery alongside food production, climate action and public health, as part of a green economy. 📝 The Value of Grasslands EDM has since been signed by 25 Members. 🗣️This has been followed by a reception in Parliament, earlier this week, hosted by Plantlife International and attended by a number of eNGO representatives including Buglife B-Lines Officer, Rachel, to once again ask our elected representatives to close "The Grassland Gap". 🌱 It's now time for the Government to commit to a Grassland Action Plan, in the same way that they have a Tree Action Plan and a Peatland Action Plan. 🐝 Whether you prefer to watch Skylarks soaring above, spot Dwarf Thistle or watch a Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) with its huge orange pollen baskets, grasslands hold something for everyone. ℹ️ If you would like to know more about "The Grassland GAP" and what is being asked, have a read of our blog written last year, where you will discover not only why grasslands are important but what needs to be done to protect them. 👇 https://lnkd.in/enSqv59j 🔦 We hope that with grasslands in the political spotlight the wealth of benefits provided by their biodiverse habitats will be recognised and better protections afforded them. . . #TheGrasslandGAP #GrasslandActionPlan #ConservationOptimism

#MMALifeSciencesPractice teammate, John Pierson, shares some great insights on the positive environmental impacts that we can make in our day to day lives! Checkout July's #ProjectPositivity below. Please feel welcome to comment what you do to help protect the environment. #lifesciences #projectpositivity #community

Colorado is taking the save the bees initiative and combatting it their own way. Saving the bees has been a part of the news for the past five or so years, but many of the projects haven't had much of an impact. Colorado plans on giving out 100,000 packets of wildflower seeds to children across the state, in hopes that the new flowers across the state will spark a resurgence in their population. Massachusetts and other states are also participating in the Save the Bees program, with No Mow May. This is a program designed to reduce or stop people mowing their lawns in the month of May. With lawns that are more grown out and not cut as frequently there is a higher percentage of bee density and species. Bee City USA has done studies in several parts of the country and found this to be consistent throughout. In Massachusetts they found that with less frequent mowing patterns that there were an additional 93 species of bees found. With mowing less there are additional benefits too. Mowing less frequently also will lead to reduced costs for operation and gas, the study found that parks that conduct 5 fewer mows per year would reduce costs by 36%. Less usage of gas and mowers would also reduce the carbon footprint that the United States emits and support climate change practices.     Honeybees play an essential part in the pollination of plants and play a significant role in the agricultural world. They impact a massive part of the economy, contributing around 15 billion dollars annually to the crop value. So, trying to increase the population of bees would be beneficial for all. #ProjectPositivity #GreatOutdoors #GOCO #Volunteer #SavetheBees #MMALifeSciencesPractice If you would like to learn more; Group Wants Colorado Kids to Save the Bees This Summer–Giving Out 100,000 Free Packets of Wildflower Seeds (goodnewsnetwork.org), https://lnkd.in/e3cxgKZW

Manhattan is about to get its own Miyawaki Forest on Roosevelt Island, with planting slated for April 6. Miyawaki pocket forests are being planted all over the world, and feature native trees planted close together to encourage faster growth. As they mature, Miyawaki Forests provide habitat for insects and wildlife, absorb carbon and clean the air, and support human mental health. They also can help reduce flooding because they begin with restored soil and nurture the development of trees, shrubs, and other plants. These forests become self-sufficient in three years. SUGi, a nonprofit foundation, is covering the costs of planting the 2,700 square foot plot of land set aside for the forest. This will be their 200th mini forest project worldwide. Hopefully this is the first of many Miyawaki forests in #NYC. I'd love to see them come to #Ottawa. You can learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e4BhAq8T #rewilding #healthycity #community #parks

Did you know that 80% of the world's flowering plants rely on pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds for survival? 👉 These incredible creatures are crucial to maintaining healthy ecosystems and food security. Unfortunately, pollinator health is facing a massive decline, but preventable action can happen right here, in our cities. Swipe to see why a cultivated pollinator garden on urban and commercial properties can support both our planet's biodiversity and our local communities. What questions do you have about the impact of pollinator gardens? If you're a Best Bees client in Chicago, Washington, D.C., or Salt Lake City, send us a message to start a pollinator habitat for your commercial property and help us combat habitat loss! #BiodiversityConservation #Pollinators #GreenRoof #GreenCities

Habitat loss is one of the greatest threats to pollinators today. These tiny creatures that buzz around us are essential to the survival of our ecosystems and, by extension, us. Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds play a crucial role in the growth of the fruits, vegetables, and flowers we love and depend upon. Yet, their habitats are shrinking at an alarming rate, putting their - and our - future at risk. But there's hope, and it starts with us. How can you help? It's simpler than you might think: Plant more. And then, plant again. Imagine if each of us took a small step towards creating a pollinator-friendly environment. Together, we could create a mosaic of habitats that could significantly impact their survival and the health of our planet. Keep Growing!

On #WorldBeeDay, let's take a moment to appreciate the critical role bees play in our food supply system. Did you know that developing a pollinator garden in your zip code can help ensure that these precious pollinators continue to thrive? Whether you prefer a simple or complex garden, it's a great way to give bees the help they need. Check out this guide from the Pollinator Partnership to learn how you can create your own pollinator garden: https://lnkd.in/gxENEyrq #worldbeeday