A concerted effort to reintroduce wild flowers in Walsall has proven successful in attracting rare bees to the area.
The initiative forms part of the Purple Horizons nature recovery project, a collaborative endeavor aimed at restoring and linking heathlands on the outskirts of urban West Midlands. Earlier this year, 60 volunteers gathered at Pelsall Common, Heath End, to plant Tormentil, Harebell, and Cat’s Ear plants. These floral additions were strategically chosen to entice the Tormentil Mining Bee, providing vital nourishment for both the bees and their offspring.
Purple Horizons, which unites Natural England, Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, Walsall Council, and the University of Birmingham, underscores its commitment to fostering habitats for bees and wasps within newly cultivated grounds.
The Tormentil Mining Bee, a species in decline across the UK primarily due to heathland depletion—nearly 80% lost over the past two centuries—stands to benefit significantly from this initiative.
Aaron Bhambra, a researcher from the University of Birmingham overseeing the project’s progress, noted, “The wild flowers have begun to bloom and are thriving at the designated sites. We observed bees foraging on them during the planting, indicating their utilization.”
This proactive approach not only enhances local biodiversity but also serves as a model for sustainable urban development, aiming to restore critical ecosystems while supporting endangered pollinators like the Tormentil Mining Bee.
