MOTION TO CONGRATULATE FIFE’S BUZZING PROJECT
Published date : 03 Aug 2017
Jenny Gilruth MSP has lodged a motion (S5M-07011: “Fife’s Buzzing Project”) asking the Scottish Parliament to congratulate the success of the Fife’s Buzzing project to create new areas of wildflower-rich grassland in Fife.
The motion text reads:
“That the Parliament welcomes the news that over 13 hectares of native wildflower-rich grassland has been created at 23 locations across Fife, including Riverside Park and Formonthills in Glenrothes, thanks to the Fife’s Buzzing project; understands that Fife’s Buzzing was a three-year project between Buglife, Fife Council, 27 schools and 10 community groups seeking to help create and maintain new wildflower and grassland habitats for pollinating insects and wildlife; understands that over 4,000 people have participated in meadow creation days, bug hunts and other events since the project began in 2014; acknowledges that the project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Fife Environment Trust; commends the support given by local landowners, including Woodland Trust Scotland, Fife Golf Trust, Commscope, St Andrews Botanic Gardens and Fife Council; appreciates the significant concern that the UK has lost over 97% of species-rich grassland since the 1940s, which has led to a severe drop in the number of native bees, butterflies and other insects and wildlife; commends Buglife’s efforts to prevent the extinction of invertebrate species and support sustainable populations across the UK; welcomes the news that the number of invertebrate species in amenity grassland in Fife has soared from 8 to 122 at the newly created meadows as of 2016, along with sightings of wildlife such as frogs, swallows, kestrels and tree bumblebees through the new grasslands, and hopes that the overwhelming success of this project encourages other local authorities, community groups and schools to take part in similar initiatives to support their local environment and wildlife across Scotland.”
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