London should build on its proud history of wildlife conservation and reputation as a surprisingly green city, to create a more colourful city in which both people and pollinators can thrive, according to a new report launched today by London Food Link’s Capital Bee. In her Foreword, prominent gardener, author and TV presenter Alys Fowler says “The nation’s capital could be a place where more green spaces are transformed by the flush of wildflowers and a blizzard of blossom, which would be great not only for bees, but would also lift our spirits too… I hope that this London Pollinators report will inspire policy makers, landowners and gardeners to join in.”

The London Pollinators: creating a buzz in the capital report draws together policy and practice from national and London levels, to explore how we can ensure that pollinators can prosper in London.  It looks at how we can manage and improve land use in the capital to address issues as diverse as health, conservation, pollution and environmental management; and how these could contribute to helping to create a city that is a more attractive, healthy and desirable place for people to live. 

Existing opportunities for making significant progress are highlighted in the report, as well as areas in need of more action. The report asks: how do we best monitor pollinator populations and record a baseline from which increases or declines can be measured? Noting the recent surge in the number of managed colonies of bees, we explore how we can tackle the potential challenges this may present, whilst making the most of the informed and engaged community of beekeepers. We focus in on the different uses of land within the city and ask how we can protect beneficial habitats that already exist, enhance those that are currently under-utilised, and realise the potential to create new habitat. Finally, acknowledging the need for a landscape-scale approach to conservation, we explore what approaches should be undertaken to ensure that habitats link as part of a larger network.

In compiling the report Capital Bee has drawn on the knowledge and expertise of a range of organisations from across the capital, each committed to reversing the decline of pollinators and helping us to reconnect to the natural world. In bringing together the diverse strands of discussion, Capital Bee hopes that the report will help to inform a conversation on developing a coordinated set of activities to promote and protect London’s pollinators that may be adopted by a range of bodies and organisations.

Capital Bee is a project of London Food Link, part of the charity Sustain. Keep up to date with, and help LFL continue, our work by becoming a supporter here.

The full report – London Pollinators: creating a buzz in the capital is available here

16/01/2015