Pollinating London Together is a Pan-Livery Initiative that first raised its profile twelve months ago to raise the issue of the plight of natural pollinators in the City.
We are keen to gain support from the Livery world to improve pollinator habitats so that they can be enjoyed by everyone. Since then, PLT has developed into a meaningful organisation that has actively engaged with over 20 Livery Companies, in a variety of ways, as well as the City of London Corporation.
As we know, the Lord Mayor wants to be known as the ‘Green Lord Mayor’, as he has put significant work into promoting the City of London Corporation’s Climate Action Strategy, which aims to make the Square Mile a greener space, promote walking and cycling and ensure the City reaches Net Zero carbon emissions by 2040. He is also heavily involved in the Corporation’s preparations for the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow in November 2021. All of which is great news for the PLT.
Through the engagement of the Livery Companies and our members, PLT’s initial focus is the Square Mile. At the strategic level, PLT has been invited to participate with the City of London Corporation through its revision of its biodiversity action plan as well as contributing to planning issues generally. At ground level (! – pardon the pun), PLT is reaching out to the world of pollinators in small ways, through better planting and more green areas by engaging with people who work in the City and who will benefit from better quality open spaces and who can participate in Citizen Science projects.
PLT is a movement where we can all make a difference at many different levels. Even if you have no garden space, you can assist with Citizen Science and undertake some key monitoring work to build up a better database of pollinators in the Square Mile or learn to make the planting in your garden more pollinator friendly. And of course, ultimately, we all know that making people aware of nature and pollinators in particular, and how they can improve it, actually reaches a much wider audience that covers issues such as mental health to food production.
During the last 12 months, PLT has managed to undertake some work in the City. We have conducted pollinator audits of 6 Livery company gardens and intend to do more pollinator audit work this year. PLT also been able to donate some bee hotels to Livery companies for the benefit of bumblebees and solitary bees.
Those Livery Companies and other property owners more generally in the City, are being encouraged to consider how they can improve the quality of their planting in their open spaces, whether it be a courtyard, garden or even a small window box. The key thing is to think about what you are planting NOW, as Easter, which is only 5 weeks away, is the time when our native pollinators become more active, and the nectar supply is limited. Please also do think about the autumn months as well, when again nectar slowly becomes more limited and yet it is important for feeding mated queen bumblebees before winter to increase their chances of survival into the following year.
Expect to hear more about PLT in the coming months as we reach out to you. In the meantime, if you do wish to learn more about what you can do to help, please contact us.
We want to spread the word and encourage small changes to make a big difference.
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