The beneficial bee population are “flourishing” across the South Downs National Park thanks to some projects launched across Sussex. The national park authority received a total of £95,000 which has been used to help grow some wildflower habitats which are the size of 163 football pitches.
The 66 hectares of habitat have helped the bee population grow and have helped provide a “road system” for pollinating insects to move from one area to te next. This “wildlife corridor initiative” has been the result of 18 projects across both Sussex and the neighbouring county of Hampshire.
Nick Heasman, a countryside policy manager for the South Downs National Park who has been helping to lead Bee Lines, said that early data was encouraging and showed that bee and butterfly populations were bouncing back in the area. He said: “Bees are busy ecosystem engineers and by pollinating flowers they create food for other wildlife and, of course, humans. In fact, one out of every three mouthfuls of our food depends on pollinators such as bees.”
READ MORE: 8 Sussex locations perfect for walking your dog including Brighton, Burgess Hill
Mr Heasman continued: “Bee Lines is just one strand of the National Park’s ReNature campaign and it’s incredibly exciting to see nature recovery in action.”
Sophie Green, of Dales Farm, Northchapel, West Sussex, said: “Our wildflower plantings are situated in the field where our shepherd’s hut rentals are and we’ve had so many compliments and amazing feedback from guests about how lovely it is.”
The initiative is part of a scheme to help nature recover across the South Downs.
READ NEXT: