23 October, 2019
Developers urged to help pollinators
Developers are being encouraged to do more to help butterflies, bees and other pollinators in our towns and cities.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has published new guidance for the planning and construction industry to create a more resilient and nature-rich urban environment.
Pollinators including bees, wasps, moths, butterflies and flies are vital for our biodiversity, but populations face challenges due to changes in land use, habitat loss, diseases, pesticides and climate change.
The new guide offers advice on how best to fit pollinators into urban design and construction with a series of easy to follow steps to suit all project budgets and sizes.
Wildflower meadows, flowering trees, hedgerows, nectar-rich plants and herbs, window boxes, green roofs, living walls and sustainable drainage systems can all help expand the habitats of pollinators.
As well as helping nature, these simple steps create more attractive environments for living, working and travelling, support local authorities in meeting biodiversity priorities and contribute to developers’ corporate social responsibility.
Improving pollinator habitat can also help save money – for example the cost savings from reducing the mowing of parks and road verges.
SNH Chief Executive Francesca Osowska said: “The recent State of Nature report set out clearly the pressures our biodiversity is under and, like much of our wildlife, pollinators are facing a multitude of challenges.
“Improving our urban greenspace will provide vital habitat and can also help us adapt to and mitigate climate change.
“High-quality developments that protect and enhance our nature are good not just for businesses but importantly for people too, with attractive greenspace in urban areas known to boost our health and wellbeing.
“I’d encourage everyone in the sector to take a look at this guide and consider how they could do more to plan for pollinators and help create a nature-rich future for everyone in Scotland.”
ENDS
For more information, contact the SNH press office on snhmedia@nature.scot or 0131 316 2655.
Contact information
- Name
- NatureScot Media
- Telephone
- 0131 316 2655
- media@nature.scot
Notes to editors
Read the full Pollinators in Planning and Construction guidance.
SNH’s Pollinator Strategy for Scotland 2017 – 2027 sets out a 10-year plan to address pollinator decline and help pollinating insects thrive.
NatureScot is Scotland's nature agency. Responding to the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, we work to protect and restore nature by inspiring everyone to value our natural world. Our goal is a nature-rich, net-zero future for Scotland. For more information, visit our website at www.nature.scot
'S e buidheann nàdair na h-Alba a th’ ann an NàdarAlba. Bidh sinn a’ gleidheadh agus a’ slànachadh nàdar le bhith a’ brosnachadh a h-uile duine gu spèis a chur air an t-saoghal nàdarra againn, agus sinn a’ freagairt air an dà chùis-èiginn de chall bith-iomadachd ’s atharrachadh na gnàth-shìde. ’S e ar n-amas nàdar beairteach ’s cothromachadh carboin do dh’Alba. Airson an tuilleadh fiosrachaidh, thoiribh sùil air an làraich-lìn againn aig www.nature.scot
