Work to support pollinator conservation in Greater Lincolnshire's farmed environment has been showcased at a national event celebrating innovative projects taking place throughout the country. The annual Bees' Needs Champions awards was held at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on Monday 6 November and saw 17 projects recognised for helping pollinators to thrive both in the countryside and urban environments. The GLNP was delighted to take part in the day by giving a presentation on our current project which involves working with farmers to develop low cost methods to support wild pollinators at a landscape scale. Part-funded by Defra, the project aims to produce a final resource which will help farmers across Greater Lincolnshire and further afield improve food, nesting and overwintering habitat for pollinators across their holding without the need for significant financial investment or ongoing time-intensive management. Eleven farms are taking part in the GLNP's project which has been developed off the back of our research study undertaken in 2016 to better understand how pollinators use a range of arable crops. The 10 year National Pollinator Strategy is now in its fourth year and relies on action by businesses, community groups, farmers, land owners and local councils to improve conditions for pollinators. The Bees' Needs Champions event was opened by Defra Minister for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity Lord Gardiner. He said: "We must all be thankful for our essential pollinators who do such vital work on our behalf, flying from crop to crop, tree to tree, helping us to grow our food. The champions I had the pleasure to meet today are doing exceptional things to return the favour and look after our pollinators. We must not leave them to it. We can all play a part. "Whether it is leaving grass uncut to give bees a home over winter, or inspiring young people to be the pollinator protectors of the future, our combined efforts make a real difference." Categories Farming