Launched in time to celebrate World Bee Day on May 20th, Pollinating London Together is a new environmental campaign spearheaded by the Livery Companies of The City of London. 

Its aim is to re-green the one square mile of the historic City of London and to make London and other cities a better place for human beings and pollinators.  

Instigated by The Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers and enabled by partnership with the Worshipful Companies of Gardeners, Information Technologists, Salters, Distillers and Grocers, the burgeoning pan-Livery initiative aims to grow awareness of what we can all do to make our cities greener and a better place to work or live. Many small actions will make a big difference.

Pollinators are important to us all, but so many of them are in decline. Their work is taken for granted, but they are a vital part of our ecosystem and of course our food chain. Raising awareness of this issue and taking steps to improve conditions for pollinators, while increasing the quality of our cities, is important on many fronts. 

Anthony Bickmore, Upper Warden of the Wax Chandlers, comments:

“Pollination is not solely the preserve of the countryside; there is so much that could be done in our cities as well. The City of London is just one square mile, but we will be encouraging families and City workers to join us in helping to provide better habitats for pollinators in our City. By working together with hospitals, schools, councils, companies, parks and households, we will demonstrate the potential to make roofs green, to create window boxes or add nectar-rich shrubs and trees. 

“The recent Mental Health Awareness Week was based around a theme of the importance of Nature, and we support that message as we believe that better quality green spaces not only help our pollinations and beautify our cities, but also have an important role in our general well-being.

Heather Barrett-Mold OBE, Master of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners adds:

 “We will be holding events to involve all ages in Pollinating London Together. The first will be a Citizen Science event (a fun Bug Count) in association with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. It will measure the number of all sorts of pollinators in one metre squares all over the City to give us a benchmark figure. We will repeat this regularly so we can assess the success of everyone’s new plantings in the City.

“Introducing the likes of bee hotels and bee boxes to cities is not the answer in itself. We need sufficient bushes, trees, wild grasses and shrubs to provide forage and nesting sites to support pollinator numbers. Without the supply of nectar-rich plants, the new bees will die or merely take food away from all of the other vital pollinator species.

“Check the new videos on our website www.pollinatinglondontogether.com/videos/  to see what you can do in your garden”.

Pollinating London Together’s constantly evolving website will aim to spread awareness of the needs of pollinators in the City of London and to demonstrate solutions. The website will be the first of many resources created by Pollinating London Together, a campaign instigated by the historic livery companies of The City.

The Rt Honourable Lord Mayor of London, Alderman William Russell, comments: 

“I am very excited about Pollinating London Together and its scope to re-green our great City. There is so much we can all do to help so many different pollinators, whilst hopefully being a template for other towns and cities; and I am very proud to have beehives on the roof on Mansion House.

“The first Livery Company was established in The City in the 12th Century to promote the quality and training of their individual specialisms. Pollinating London Together will continue this excellent tradition with the potential to bring our historic Livery Companies – and the people of London – together in this important ecological initiative.”

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PDF copy available here.

For more info, contact Beci Ryan of Pollinating London Together on 07976 104408 or by email beci.ryan@pollinatinglondontogether.com; or Rupert Ponsonby on 07785 733220, 01608 658465; 02073 841333 rupert@randr.co.uk  May 2021