Boost for north Shropshire’s bees thanks to Shropshire Council’s new countryside membership scheme

North Shropshire’s bees are set for a brighter future thanks to money raised from Shropshire Council’s new countryside membership scheme.

The ‘Shropshire’s Great Outdoors’ scheme was launched in December 2016 with all membership fees put towards the maintenance of Shropshire Council’s countryside parks and sites.

Now, the money raised in the first year of the scheme is to be used to improve and enhance the Bee Metropolis that sits alongside The Mere at Ellesmere and provides a home to solitary bees and other invertebrates. (see notes)

The Bee Metropolis at The Mere in Ellesmere

The planned work includes enhanced wildflower beds and new information boards showing types of British bees and the food plants they require to survive.

It will be carried out in early summer 2018, and the start of work will be marked with a special bee-themed day of events and activities at the site, including a bee safari run by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Further details will be announced shortly.

Meanwhile, the Shropshire’s Great Outdoors scheme has been developed for its second year to appeal to a greater range of people, and the list of member benefits has also been revised and improved.

The scheme now offers joint and family membership, in addition to the existing individual membership.

As well as free parking at Shropshire Council’s countryside sites, members of the scheme can now benefit from discounts at The Boathouse in Ellesmere, and The Severn Valley County Park café, and on room bookings at the Warden’s Bungalow in Ellesmere – plus 10% discount on many events at Theatre Severn and the Old Market Hall in Shrewsbury, and 10% discounts on events being held at Severn Valley Country Park.

Members also get a 10% discount at Dave Mellor Cycles in Shrewsbury, 10% discount on all pony trekking adventures at The Long Mountain between Welshpool and Shrewsbury, and 10% off on clothing and equipment at High Sports in Shrewsbury.

It’s hoped that the list of member benefits will continue to grow in the coming year.

Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture and leisure, said:

“In the first year some 50 people have joined the Great Outdoors Scheme, raising around £1300 which will now be used to enhance the Bee Metropolis and give our bees a brighter future.

“We’re really pleased with the response the scheme has had in its first year, but we want the scheme to appeal to a greater and wider range of people so I’m delighted that we can now offer joint and family memberships, and that we can offer a greater and more attractive range of discounts and benefits to members.

“The more people that join, the more money we will raise to help manage and develop our valuable countryside sites and parks – so if people sign up both they and our sites really will benefit.”

Shaun Burkey, country parks and sites officer with Shropshire Council, said:

“The Bee Metropolis was created for our bees which, as we know, are suffering terribly due to a number of factors including pesticides and a lack of nectar-rich flowering plants. When three beech trees became diseased and had to be felled we decided to create the Bee Metropolis. Deadwood is great for insects providing food for birds and mammals. Hundreds of holes have also been drilled into the deadwood, and these are used by solitary bees as nest chambers.

“Nectar-rich cornfield flower-beds have been planted around the Bee Metropolis and we hope visitors will be inspired to plant bee-friendly plants in their gardens to give our bees a chance for their and our futures.”

The  Mere country park is managed and maintained by Shropshire Council.

For more information about the Shropshire’s Great Outdoors scheme, and to join, visit www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk.

Further information

The Bee Metropolis

Constructed by local artist Caroline Lowe in 2015, the Bee Metropolis is sited at the sunny centre of an area of Cremorne Gardens that was previously overgrown and unmanaged, but which is now extensively covered with wildflower meadows and new trees selected for their colour and form.

It was built from three beech trees that were diseased and need to be felled at this spot. This has been stacked in a way and drilled with hundreds of holes that will give a home to solitary bees and a whole array of other invertebrates.

The Great Outdoors scheme

Membership categories and prices are:

• Individual- £36/year, plus card for one vehicle.
• Joint- £46 year. Two people at the same address, plus cards for two vehicles.
• Family- £50/year. Two adults plus up to three children under 16 years of age, and cards for two vehicles.