Partnership to save the small things that run the planet
Lincolnshire’s Boston Seeds has donated a further almost £1,500 to Peterborough based charity Buglife, to aid their work in the conservation and development of habitats for endangered invertebrates. Receiving the cheque from Boston Seeds’ Managing Director, George Wallis, is Buglife’s Fundraising Director Paul Hetherington standing together at Holly Well Ponds a meadow that was enhanced using Boston Seeds a little over five years ago.
Little of the fascinating world of bugs is commonly understood, despite their significant contribution to the planet’s ecosystem. Pollinators contribute annually over half a billion pounds to UK farming, and dung beetles add a further quarter of a billion. Over 97% of flower-rich grasslands in the UK have been lost since the 1930s, an area equivalent to one and a half times the size Wales, reducing pollen and nectar sources and leading to a serious decline in the wildlife depending on wildflower-rich habitat.
‘Buglife are focussed on improving the public understanding of the wider ecosystem, upon which so many of our beloved wildlife species depend,’ Paul commented. ‘Although getting people excited about so called creepy crawlies can sometimes be a challenge! In particular Buglife are focusing on delivering B-Lines the insect super highways that have been mapped across the UK. Boston seeds are the preferred seed supplier to this essential work for our pollinators.’
Creating and preserving habitats can be a costly and timely affair, relying on partnerships between public and private organisations alike to secure funding. Boston Seeds have been supplying UK native wildflower seeds and plants for twenty years – from domestic gardens to national infrastructure projects. ‘Our ongoing collaboration with Buglife ensures we are protecting and improving biodiversity for generations to come’ George commented. ‘We hope that through our continued partnership with Buglife we can bring wildflowers back to every corner of the country.’
Establishment of wildflower areas can take time, and a number of years to naturally evolve in to what nature demands. Sowing the right seed mixtures of UK native wildflowers is essential to this process. ‘Boston Seeds grow over one hundred species of wildflowers from original meadow collections, much of which is produced right here in Lincolnshire. With such an array of species and mixtures available, beautiful wildflower areas can be created even in the smallest spaces.’
Boston Seeds’ donation will be used by Buglife to support the development of new partnerships to create more and better habitats for the small things that run the planet.
For more information on the great work that Buglife is doing, please visit their website at www.buglife.org.uk. If you are interested in sowing your own wildflower area, visit www.bostonseeds.com or call 01205 280069.