Pollinators are the unsung heroes of our natural world but a national farming  charity says not enough is being done to protect their habitat and our own future. 

The Countryside Regeneration Trust (CRT) today launched its summer appeal,Wildflowers for Pollinators,with a goal of raising £5,000 to create a dedicated pollinator field at Pierrepont Farm in Frensham, Surrey.  To donate, please go to www.thecrt.co.uk/donate/wildflowers-for-pollinators-appeal  

This space will provide vital food sources and shelter for bees, butterflies, hoverflies and a host of other essential insects. 

Working with its volunteers and conservation experts, the CRT will transform an area of overgrown scrubland into a pollinator paradise. 

The plan includes sowing a carefully selected mix of native wildflowers, ensuring continuous nectar and pollen sources from spring through autumn.  

The habitat will also feature critical elements, such as nesting areas for ground bees, dead wood for solitary bees, and host plants for butterflies and moths. 

Leslie Hackett, the CRT’s volunteer manager, said : “Most of the work will be carried out by Pierrepont Farm’s dedicated volunteers, supported by the CRT’s conservation experts.  

“They will carefully select and sow a diverse range of native wildflowers, ensuring a continuous supply of nectar and pollen from early spring to late autumn.  

“Beyond just flowers, we will also incorporate elements crucial for pollinator survival, such as areas for ground-nesting bees, dead wood for solitary bees, and host plants for butterfly and moth caterpillars.” 

The £5,000 target will fund:  

* Scrub clearance 

* Native wildflower seeds and plug plants 

* Soil preparation and habitat enhancements 

“In addition to the £5,000 we hope to raise, we are already very grateful to the Surrey Hills National Landscape. They have provided us with funding to contribute to the purchase of our Ryetec cut and collect machine, which will enable us to carry out the management required to establish and maintain this important habitat,” added Leslie. 

The project is due to begin in late winter/early spring 2026, with the appeal aiming to reach its fundraising goal in time to prepare the site. 

Leslie said pollinators are vital for the food we eat and the health of our ecosystems. Since the 1950s, 23 species of bees and flower-visiting wasps have become extinct. More broadly, between 1980 and 2022, there has been a long-term decline in overall pollinator abundance.   

Leslie said: “We hope our dedicated pollinator field will attract a wide variety of essential pollinator species, each playing a unique role in the ecosystem.  

“While bees are often the first pollinators to come to mind, many other insects are equally vital. We anticipate welcoming diverse species of bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths, various wasps, beetles, and other flies to our pollinator paradise.” 

What will be planted at Pierrepont Farm?  

Pierrepont Farm is located on sandy and acidic soil, so a seed mix which can tolerate these conditions and provide food for both adult and caterpillar stages of many pollinating species will be sown. This includes:  

* Sheep’s fescue- This grass is a food plant for several butterflies, such as the gatekeeper and meadow brown.  

* Sheep's sorrel  - Food plant of the small copper butterfly.  

* Lady’s bedstraw- A nectar provider for bees and butterflies, and a food source for several moth caterpillars. 

* Devils-bit scabious  - Rich in pollen and nectar, it attracts a variety of pollinating insects.  

* Tormentil  - A low-growing plant that is a food source for several butterflies and moths. 

* Common centaury  - Produces small pink flowers and is loved by bees, butterflies, moths and hoverflies. 

* Bird’s-foot-trefoil  - An important food plant for the caterpillars of common blue and silver-studded butterflies. It also provides nectar for bees.  
* Betony  - Loved by many pollinators, but particularly the wool carder bee.  

To donate, please go to www.thecrt.co.uk/donate/wildflowers-for-pollinators-appeal