MP Maria Miller is urging residents of Chineham and Sherfield Park to get involved with the wildflower planting scheme being launched in the local area this summer. This has come about as a result of the community meeting Maria held earlier this year, with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT) and Cllr Elaine Still, to explore what a “Wilder Chineham and Sherfield Park” would look like. One of the ideas at the meeting was to adopt the “Pollinator Promise” – the planting of small patches of wildflowers to support more bees and other pollinating insects, an idea initially developed by a Primary School in Havant, and supported by the Wildlife Trust.
The Chineham Conservation Group, supported by Natural Basingstoke and the HIWWT, are launching this programme for residents of Chineham and Sherfield Park to plant “pollinator patches” in their gardens in late September/early October. Alongside this, Maria will be joining with schools and other organisations in the area to plant “pollinator patches” more publicly – to show community support for the scheme and help to spread the message more widely.
Local residents in Chineham and Sherfield Park are being invited to participate in the scheme by removing one square metre of turf from their gardens, and planting wildflower seeds, which are available free of charge if they register with the Chineham Conservation Group at pollinator.patches@gmail.com. Seeds will be available later in September, and will come with planting and care instructions.
Maria said: “I am very pleased to support the Pollinator Patches scheme in Chineham and Sherfield Park, which gives all local residents the opportunity to do their bit to help increase the number of bees and other pollinators. I would encourage residents and local businesses to sign up for the free wildflower seeds, and to take part in this initiative.”
“I am planning to join in with some of the planting in community areas, including Great Binfields School, in late September, with the help of the Chineham Scouts, Chineham Conservation Group and Natural Basingstoke.”