News

Gadebridge Park has scooped the national Bees' Needs Champion Award, which recognises the work our Parks and Open Spaces team does to support pollinators in the park. 

The Bees’ Needs Champion Award is presented by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and acknowledges exceptional efforts to helping local bee populations, such as planting wildflowers and considering pollinators in overall grounds management strategies.

Some of the actions we have been commended for include introducing mason bee houses and two wild bee hives, changing our planting schemes to include more pollinator friendly perennials and wildflower turf, and introducing different grass-cutting regimes to encourage nature recovery. We also now have eight hectares of Gadebridge Park dedicated to pollinators and biodiversity.

Cllr William Allen, our Portfolio Holder for Climate and Ecological Emergency, said: “It’s fantastic to see the dedication and hard work of our Parks and Open Spaces team recognised on a national level, showcasing our commitment to supporting our population of pollinators in Dacorum.”

The awards are part of Bees’ Needs Week, an annual event coordinated by DEFRA in England running from 8 to 14 July 2024.

During this week, various organisations, including conservation groups, businesses, local authorities and charities, come together to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators and share ideas on how everyone can help bees and other pollinators thrive.

Simple actions you can do to help pollinators in the borough include growing more nectar-rich flowers, shrubs and trees, allowing patches of your garden to grow wild, cutting grass less frequently and being mindful of pesticide use.

To find out more about what we do to support Dacorum’s biodiversity, visit our Biodiversity and conservation page. 

More information about the Bees' Needs Awards can be found on the Government website.