BUSY BUILDERS HOPE TO BOOST BEE NUMBERS AT WORCESTERSHIRE DEVELOPMENTS

David Wilson Homes Mercia is planting “bee-friendly” plants in the gardens of its new homes in Worcestershire as part of its continuing pledge to protect local wildlife.

The leading developer, which is working in partnership with the RSPB, will plant bee-friendly flowers and shrubs, which are rich in pollen and which provide a long flowering season, in the gardens of its sales centres and show homes to help boost dwindling honey bee, bumblebee and other bee populations.

There are over 250 bee species in the UK, and most face threats such as loss of habitat, climate change and disease. They are vital to the food chain, with one in every three mouthfuls of food consumed by humans dependent on pollination, including apples, pears, onions, potatoes, cherries, chillies, carrots, margarine and herbs.

Steve Barton, Senior Sales Manager for David Wilson Homes Mercia, said; “We want to raise awareness of the threat faced by bees, by planting specific plants in the gardens of our local developments which will benefit bees, and by encouraging our customers and other gardeners to do the same.”

Bee-friendly plants produce high levels of nectar and pollen, and include poppies, lavender, heathers, geraniums, foxgloves and fruit trees.

The homebuilder has also recently worked with the RSPB to publish a list of top tips to increase wildlife in gardens, including building a “bee B&B” - for solitary bees to nest in and lay their eggs.

The RSPB’s wildlife gardening expert Adrian Thomas said: "The UK's bee numbers are in decline, but planting the right mix of flowers, shrubs and bushes can help reverse this, as can putting up a simple bee hotel in a sunny position.

“We would like to see people feel inspired to help give nature a home after they visit one of David Wilson’s show homes, as even a few small changes in your garden can make a big difference for bees and other wildlife.“

David Wilson Homes is encouraging residents, businesses and schools to follow its example wherever possible to provide homes and suitable plants for bees.

David Wilson Homes Mercia is currently building a selection of high quality new homes at its Abbey Gate, Blossom Fields, Tenbury View and Gilbert’s Lea development.

Abbey Gate is located on Woodrow Drive in Redditch and a selection of two to four bedroom homes will be for sale in Summer 2017.

Blossom Fields is located on Post Office Lane in Kempsey and a selection of two to five bedroom homes will be for sale in October 2017.

Tenbury View is located on Oldwood Road in Tenbury Wells and there is currently just one four bedroom home for sale, with prices starting from £375,000.

Gilbert’s Lea is located on Birmingham Road in Bromsgrove and there are currently four bedroom homes for sale, with three bedroom homes launching in Summer 2018.

For information on the homes for sale in Worcestershire, please call the sales information line on 0844 811 3322 or visit www.dwh.co.uk.

For more information on bee friendly plants, visit the RSPB Homes For Wildlife blog, written by Adrian Thomas: http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/homesforwildlife/b/gardeningforwildlife/archive/2017/03/10/going-blue-for-bees.aspx

A well-established homebuilder, David Wilson Homes prides itself on creating exceptional homes in the finest locations and recently achieved the maximum five star rating in a customer satisfaction survey ran by the Home Builders Federation for an eighth consecutive year.