12/07/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

MONMOUTHSHIRE County Council is offering residents and community groups an exciting opportunity to get involved and to enjoy nature and wildlife in their own gardens or local open spaces.

The Resilient Greater Gwent project is being funded by the Welsh Government’s Enabling of Natural Resources and Wellbeing Grant and aims to promote nature to encourage communities to value their landscapes and wildlife and to also get involved for their own health and wellbeing. Residents are able to apply for pollinator packs, which include all the tools needed to create a pollinating paradise in their own green spaces. The project follows the council’s commitment to promoting biodiversity and encouraging nature to thrive.

It comes at a time where pollinators are in decline across Wales, Britain, and Europe and have been for many years. In Wales, the main groups of pollinators are bees and wasps, flies (including hoverflies), butterflies, moths, and beetles. Collectively, these are responsible for pollinating approximately 75% of temperate flowering plant species and critical to maintaining human life.

Residents wishing to turn their gardens into the perfect habitat for pollinating species can apply for a free ‘Pollinator Pack’. The pack includes:

Wildflower seeds to scatter in gardens to grow a beautiful variety of pollinator-friendly plants and flowers;

An insect house to attract a variety of species; and

Illustrated wildlife guides to help identify the visitors that are attracted to green spaces.

Monmouthshire residents are also being offered the chance to loan a trail camera to record wildlife in community gardens, open spaces, or school grounds. These portable infrared trail cameras use motion sensors to record images and videos of animals or birds that might pass by. The LED array even allows video footage and pictures to be captured in complete darkness.

These trail cameras are available to loan free of charge. The cameras will be available to community groups, their members as well as schools.

 

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