Devon builds for bees

The winners of the ‘Build for Bees’ competition, which encouraged Devon’s residents to build the biggest and best bug hotels for pollinators, have been decided.

There was heavy competition, with lots of creative and well-designed entries submitted from schools, community groups, individuals and families.

Niquita Potter, of East Budleigh, won the ‘best individual build’ category, while Friends of the Byes, a community nature group in Sidmouth, won the best community group build.

Their design cleverly included a thatched roof, thanks to a donation from a local thatcher.

Bishops Nympton Primary school in South Molton won the best school build. All three classes at the school contributed towards this huge bug hotel, which included some additional areas to plant wildflowers to provide pollinators with a nearby food source.

The two runners up were Ebon Seldon Green from Great Torrington and the Honiton Beehive Community Gardeners.

The competition, launched by the Devon Local Nature Partnership, which includes nature organisations, landowners and local authorities like Devon County Council, aimed at inspiring people to take part in ‘practical conservation’.

It was part of the ‘Get Devon Buzzing’ campaign, which aims to reverse the decline in pollinators.

Over 70 years up to 97% of the UK’s wildflower meadows have been lost, one of the main reasons why our pollinators are declining.

Andrew Whitehouse, Countries manager for Buglife said: “The decline in pollinators is a serious issue, so it’s great to see so many people getting involved in practical conservation for pollinators by building habitats for them.”

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “Even though the competition is over we urge Devon’s residents to continue to create areas of wildflowers, build well designed bug hotels and take other positive steps to conserve pollinators across Devon.“