AN environmental group has called on a bee expert for advice on turning Middleton-in-Teesdale into a insect-friendly village.
Not ones to rest on its laurels, the successful Middleton-in-Bloom team that secured gold in last year’s Northumberland in Bloom competition has ambitious plans for this year’s entry.
They called on bee expert Mandy Oliver, from the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership (AONB), for a walk around the village on Monday, February 5, to see what to plant and where.
The group has adopted the theme “buzzing for bees” for this year’s entry.
Middleton-in-Bloom chairwoman Pam Phillips said: “It is nice to be involved with other organisations – it helps keep things going.”
Ms Oliver suggested the group plants single species of flowers in clumps for more efficient nectar foraging for bees. She also recommended they plant bowl-shaped flowers, such as sweet pea. She added: “Avoid begonias because they have no nectar or pollen and some of them have such complicated flowers. Tthe bees can’t get at the pollen and nectar.”
The committee has enjoyed a £223 boost after holding a coffee morning on Saturday, January 27.
The event was well supported by businesses who offered raffle prizes, including Middleton Fish and Chip Shop, Fresh Craft and Interiors, Rumours Coffee Shop, Middleton Forge, Morrisons, B&Q, Sam Turner’s Garden centre and Ravensworth Nurseries.
