Bees are to benefit from £900 million for a new scheme to protect our countryside, Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss has announced.
Over the next five years the new Countryside Stewardship scheme will offer grants to help improve our environment and countryside – with £85 million set aside to support projects in 2016, including those that improve pollen and nectar sources.
Bees and pollinators are one of four main priorities for the scheme, which is being run on a competitive basis for the first time this year.
Applications will be ranked and money only awarded to those who will make the biggest improvements in their local area. Extra points will be given to agreements working to support bees and pollinators and other farm wildlife.
Work could include year-round food, shelter and nesting places that wild pollinators, birds and other farm wildlife need to survive and thrive; sowing nectar flower and winter bird food mixes; or increasing flower resources on grassland and on field margins and managing hedgerows.
Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said: "This is the first ever countryside stewardship scheme that specifically combines help for bees and pollinators as well as wildlife, woodland and rivers.
"This will mean more margins and meadows with colourful wildflowers in our countryside. Productive farming goes hand in hand with improving the environment."
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