Insect populations in Britain have reduced by 75% over the past 50 years. This is devastating news, not only for our birds and amphibians, but also for us. Deprived of an abundance of insects there will be nothing to pollinate our crops and the beautiful wildflowers that adorn our countryside.

But it’s not too late – we can all help to save our bees. Feeding on both pollen and nectar, a bee may visit a patch of flowers 3km from its nest several times a day. But to create a sufficient corridor of food for them, we need to plant a lot more flowers. These ‘super flower highways’ need to contain a variety of bee-friendly flowers that bloom between February and November. Once these new pollinator corridors are created, they will also help other insects such as butterflies, hoverflies and moths, making this small patch of North Dorset a model of good practice for other places to follow.

To this end, Wessex Water has funded BeewayZz, which was launched on World Bee Day, here in North Dorset, May 2021, to encourage members of the community to start planting for bees.

BeewayZz is a community project hosted by the Countryside Restoration Trust with Bere Marsh Farm as its hub.

The plan is to create these super flower highways within a 3km radius of the farm initially. To join the project, all you need to do is to set aside a small piece of land for planting. This can be any size – a flowerbed, the margins of a sports field or car park, a churchyard or indeed any overlooked piece of land where perennials can come up each year to provide food for the bees. BeewayZz asks you to provide a list of what you have planted and whether you think the number of bees on your patch has increased. If you want to send a photo of your plot, then that would also be very welcome.

Bees prefer certain flower colours and shapes, but don’t worry; BeewayZz will supply you with a list of inexpensive plants to get you started, and a fact sheet that highlights flowering times and light preferences.

If you live in the vicinity of Shillingstone, Turnworth, Child Okeford, Durweston or Handford and you would like to take part, please contact Susie Curtin at beewayzz20521@gmail.com or call 01258 860090 during office hours.