Monmouth Bee Festival this weekend (Sunday 19th May, 10am to 4pm) sees the launch of a new pilot project at The Nelson Garden entitled Nature Isn’t Neat (May 19th).

The project provides communities with information and ideas to encourage more and more bees, butterflies and other insects to populate and pollinate gardens, meadows, hedgerows and verges.

The project has been funded via the Welsh Government Rural Communities under the LEADER measure of the Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020. It aims to encourage the public to think about how they can protect species that help provide a vast amount of food.

Based in Monmouth it’s led by the town council in partnership with experts from Bees for Development, Transition Monmouth, Bee Friendly Monmouthshire and Monmouth Meadow Group and is supported by Monmouthshire County Council.

The project is looking for residents, schools and community groups to get involved via: @natureisntneat on Twitter and Nature Isn’t Neat on Facebook. You’re also encouraged to take part in a short survey: https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/nin/

Cllr Bryan Jones Cabinet Member for Biodiversity said: "Pollinators are so important to help our environment thrive. Nature Isn’t Neat is a great example of how groups can work together to make a positive impact in the county."

by Annabel Hughes