Get Buzzing photos winners announced
The winner of the Devon Local Nature Partnership’s (DLNP) Get Devon Buzzing photo competition has been chosen.
The first prize goes to Rose Tabberer for her stunning photo of a bee flying towards a foxglove in Mount Edgcumbe Country Park in Plymouth.
The competition was part of the campaign over the summer to promote the conservation of bees, butterflies and other pollinators across the county.
She said: “Mount Edgcumbe is great for pollinators. The habitats are kept completely natural which definitely helps insect populations.”
Second prize was awarded to Jez Winship, with five runners up prizes going to Fiona Wood, Dave Chamberlain, Jo King, Lucien Harris and Steven Falk.
Pollinator-friendly prizes included a luxury bug hotel, A Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland, donated by Natural History Book Service, and a silver bee pendant donated by Draycotts jewellers.
Over the summer 60 events were held, with thousands of people getting involved in activities organised by a wide range of DLNP partners.
These included the Goren wildflower meadow festival, Paignton Zoo’s bee workshop and Stantyway Farm’s bioblitz events.
Teignbridge Council rangers set up a pollinators’ trail with brass rubbings at Dawlish Warren and Decoy Country Park, while Christow WI organised a Get Devon Buzzing stall with their own knitted bees at the Christow Show.
Residents of Lower Collapark, Totnes joined forces to plant a variety of herbs, currant bushes and wild flowers to attract pollinators, transforming a once-neglected space into a community garden buzzing with creativity.
The campaign, was sponsored by local solicitors WBW, continues and DLNP would particularly like schools, parishes, WIs and other community groups to get involved by signing up to the Devon Pollinators’ Pledge.
Andrew Whitehouse, Conservation Projects Manager for Buglife and judge for the competition said: “It’s been fantastic to see people of all ages getting involved with the campaign by making some positive actions for pollinators and sending in some beautiful photos of bees, butterflies and other pollinators in their back gardens and local areas.
“Pollinators are of great importance for the environment, and it’s important that we continue to take them into consideration throughout the year. “Despite the end of the summer, there is still enough time to help pollinators by planting and sowing seeds to create bee-friendly areas for next spring, or building bug hotels to provide crucial hibernation habitats for pollinators over winter.”
For more information about the campaign and how to get involved, visit the DLNP website: www.naturaldevon.org.uk
