Our Sustainability team is offering free packs of plants to residents to help support butterflies, bees and other pollinators at a series of community events throughout August.
The give-away is part of our ongoing work through the North Ayrshire Nature Network (NANN), which is the blueprint for tackling the nature emergency and adapting to climate change locally.
One of the key drivers for biodiversity loss is land use change where, over time, habitats have been lost – and Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
Nature Networks are being delivered across Scotland to improve connectivity and reverse declines in biodiversity. These connect nature-rich sites, restoration areas and other environmental projects through a series of areas of suitable habitat, habitat corridors and stepping stones.
The NANN Strategy, approved by Cabinet earlier this year, will help by driving actions like regenerating the natural environment, empowering communities to play their part and improving habitat quality for wildlife.
In partnership with the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, Council Officers will be attending a series of local events in the coming weeks to hand out free NANN Pollinator Plant packs.
These packs can be planted in residents’ gardens or outdoor spaces, providing food for butterflies, bees and other pollinators.
They will also help people across our communities to play their part in the NANN.
Each pollinator pack will contain nine garden perennial plants (varieties with a longer lifespan that normally come back every year) and two seed packets for sowing.
The plants will flower at different times across the year, making sure that our pollinators always have a source of nectar to feed on.
Biodiversity Officer Neal Lochrie said: “It would be great to see some colleagues at any of the upcoming events.
“The team will be happy to speak to you about our NANN plans and discuss any matters you want more information on in regards to biodiversity and climate.”
The number of packs available is limited, and these will be handed out on a first come, first served basis at the following events:
- Saturday 9 August – Brodick Highland Show, Ormidale Park, Brodick, from 11am
- Monday 25 August – Irvine Flower Show (part of the annual Marymass Festival), Volunteer Rooms, Irvine, 2pm to 7.30pm
- Thursday 28 August – Kilwinning Flower Show, Abbey Hall, Kilwinning, 2pm to 7pm and
- Saturday 30 August – Largs Viking Festival, Largs Promenade, from 10am
To find out more about the North Ayrshire Network, watch the video on Take Two.
“It would be great to see some colleagues at any of the upcoming events. The team will be happy to speak to you about our NANN plans and discuss any matters you want more information on in regards to biodiversity and climate.”Biodiversity Officer Neal Lochrie