The Bee Guardian Foundation has named Gloucester the World’s first Bee Guardian City after turning a dozen roadside locations into urban wildflower meadows to attract bees. Driving around Gloucester it really makes you turn your head when you see the swathes of colour on the roadside or roundabout. And it seems we’re not the only ones to thoroughly approve of this wonderful scheme.
‘‘We’ve been inundated with calls saying what a wonderful idea! We have here an example of what we can do to help the environment. Cultivated flowers do not produce nectar and therefore don’t attract insects, so by doing this we are doing our bit to attract insects in urban areas”. Councillor Kathy Williams, Gloucester City Council.
Well done Gloucester. You can watch the news report from ITV West here 
© image credits ITV West
We’ve been hearing about bee decline for so long it’s good to see cities are taking initiative. Sarah Raven’s message came across. (Did you watch Bees, Butterflies and Blooms ?). Let’s hope every city adopts a wildflower policy.
This is a brilliant idea and it looks great! Am now in Chicago which is not quite as green but a really dynamic place!
What a fabulous way to pretty up Gloucester and help the bee population! I’m originally from Cheltenham, lived in Churchdown for a bit and was a frequent visitor to Gloucester. Even the cathedral was neglected back then and the city was just an ugly concrete jungle. I’m so glad to hear that it’s being smartened up!
Wonderful news! I notice that the bees in my garden are most interested in perenials, lavender, alliums, cardoon flowers, and surprisingly the tiny violet flowers on the lambs ears are attracting some huge wild bees right now.
Woo hoo! Three cheers for Gloucester! Now lets hope others follow their example, I bet it’s cheaper too…
Wow, well done Gloucester, especially when my Twitter timeline is filled with other people bemoaning the fact that their wild flower verges are continually being mown short by councils who don’t care.
And how lucky that you get to enjoy these beautiful flowers.
Mel
I’ve driven through Gloucester a few time and the flowers are head turning