Farm project aims to create 'pollinator paradise'

A countryside charity has said it wants to create a "pollinator paradise" for bees, butterflies and other insects as part of a project to transform overgrown land at a Surrey farm.

The Countryside Regeneration Trust (CRT) said it wanted to use Pierrepont Farm, in Frensham, as a site to grow wildflowers and build insect nesting areas.

The project is aiming to protect pollinators in the local ecosystem, with many species in decline nationally.

Leslie Hackett, volunteer manager for the CRT, said the work would ensure a "continuous supply of nectar and pollen from early spring to late autumn".

She added: "While bees are often the first pollinators to come to mind, many other insects are equally vital.

"We anticipate welcoming diverse species of bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths, various wasps, beetles, and other flies to our pollinator paradise."

Roughly a third of insect species are either extinct or in decline, according to the Surrey Wildlife Trust.

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust also said that 2024 was the worst year on record for bumblebees in the UK, with population figures 22.5% lower than the average for 2010-2023.

It said the issue was "everyone's problem" as the insects were "key pollinators of affordable fruit and vegetables for all".

Work at Pierrepont Farm would begin in the winter or early spring, involving clearing the overgrown scrubland and replanting wildflower seeds.

A CRT spokesperson said the farm, located on sandy and acidic soil, would be able to provide food for adult and caterpillar insects with the right mix of wildflowers.

The site would also incorporate areas for ground-nesting bees and host plants for butterflies, moths and caterpillars.

The CRT is aiming to raise £5,000 to support the project.

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