Norfolk authority launches plan to save the bees
West Norfolk Council wants to put the needs of pollinators at the heart of its policies
A Norfolk council is set to embark on a crusade to protect bees, butterflies and wasps in a bid to prevent dwindling population levels.
West Norfolk Council is considering introducing a raft of measures which will put the needs of pollinators at the heart of its policies that aim to boost biodiversity.
These would include changing how it manages green spaces at cemeteries and parks and introducing planning rules to ensure insect-friendly habitats are created.
The new policies come from the Biodiversity Task Group, which was set up in 2023, and has a budget of £80,000 to support its work.
Now, members are seeking to employ a project officer to bring the ideas to fruition.
A salary of between £35,000 and £40,000 per year has been proposed.
Councillor Michael De Whalley, cabinet member for climate change and biodiversity, said: “The plan before you is thoughtful, evidenced and innovative. Its actions are achievable and realistic.”
The move follows recent findings that suggest 75% of insects in the UK have vanished since 2004, with this decline potentially having huge ramifications upon the natural world and causing ecosystems to collapse.