{"id":4785,"date":"2020-05-04T10:38:17","date_gmt":"2020-05-04T09:38:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/?p=4785"},"modified":"2020-06-04T12:55:26","modified_gmt":"2020-06-04T11:55:26","slug":"what-can-we-do-to-help-our-pollinating-insects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/lichfield\/2020\/05\/04\/what-can-we-do-to-help-our-pollinating-insects\/","title":{"rendered":"What can we do to help our pollinating insects…and ourselves?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Like many Soroptimists, Lichfield & District Club is keen to do all it can to preserve and nurture our environment. On<\/span>e issue <\/span>d<\/span>iscussed in our Planet sub group<\/a> was the <\/span>decline in <\/span>the number of <\/span>pollinat<\/span>ing insects <\/span>and <\/span>ways in which <\/span>we m<\/span>ight <\/span>help to reverse this trend in our local area.<\/span><\/p>\n

We’re blessed with excellent Club gardeners who quickly began to think of ways to deliver on this. Not only to help our <\/span>pollinating <\/span>insects<\/span> but <\/span>also support the <\/span>well-being and mental health <\/span>of people in general. #Soroptimistsvolunteer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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We approached Lichfield Cathedral <\/a><\/span>with an offer <\/span>of <\/span>tidy<\/span>ing<\/span> the<\/span> coffee shop <\/span>garden <\/span>and making the planting more attractive to pollinators and of course to the visitors who <\/span>use the coffee shop<\/span> and its secluded garden<\/span>. The<\/span> Cathedral had recently registered as an Eco Church<\/a> and so <\/span>was very enthusiastic <\/span>in accepting our offer.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Chapters Garden<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Before!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Early June 2019 saw a <\/span>small team<\/span> of volunteers<\/span> commenc<\/span>ing work in The Close. <\/span>The g<\/span>arden <\/span>itself and the <\/span>borders <\/span>were <\/span>very overgrown <\/span>with the<\/span> footpath<\/span>s <\/span>covered in tree debris and fallen leaves. <\/span>There was a good deal <\/span>more <\/span>to do than <\/span>was<\/span> initially realised<\/span> and u<\/span>nfortunately, wet weather prevailed for much of June and a good deal of July<\/span>,<\/span> but undaunted <\/span>and <\/span>equipped with garden gloves<\/span>, <\/span>wellington boots, secateurs, loppers<\/span>,<\/span> spades<\/span>, <\/span>forks <\/span>and other <\/span>garden<\/span>ing <\/span>paraphernalia we attached the <\/span>brambles and nettles<\/span>. Borders were dug <\/span>and <\/span>deep<\/span>–<\/span>seated weeds rooted out, shrubs and roses were pruned and t<\/span>rimme<\/span>d, pathways <\/span>cleared<\/span> and surrounding paintwork <\/span>given <\/span>a good scrub<\/span>. <\/span>P<\/span>aved patio areas were denuded of moss <\/span>and planters were spruced up.<\/span> Evenings spent working in the peacefulness of the coffee shop garden <\/span>proved to be<\/span> relaxing and rewarding.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Completed<\/a>
After!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Following <\/span>much<\/span> hard work, the garden <\/span>began to <\/span>take shape. The r<\/span>ockery was dug over <\/span>and <\/span>stones eased back into position<\/span>. <\/span>The <\/span>removal of overgrown shrubbery revealed what felt like<\/span> a secret garden<\/span>. <\/span>S<\/span>urplus plants <\/span>and cuttings begged <\/span>from friends and relatives <\/span>were <\/span>planted <\/span>along with <\/span>b<\/span>ulbs <\/span>le<\/span>aving high <\/span>hopes <\/span>of a <\/span>s<\/span>pring garden bursting into life <\/span>full of colour and <\/span>vigour<\/span>, teeming with pollinators and visitors<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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One member of the Cathedral staff <\/span>commented<\/span> the garden \u2026\u2026\u201dis looking amazing and you have made such a difference \u2013 it\u2019s like having \u2018Groundforce\u2019 in each week!\u201d Summer of 2019 saw Lichfield receive <\/span>their 3<\/span>rd <\/span>gold award<\/span>from RHS Heart of England <\/span>in <\/span>Bloom yearly awards<\/span>, <\/span>with<\/span> mention <\/span>being<\/span> made of the work that SI Lichfield and District was doing at the Cathedral. <\/span><\/p>\n

Raised Beds near Lichfield City Station Railway Bridge<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

SI Lichfield and District also tends two raised beds in Lichfield City centre, adjacent to the City railway station as part of its Planet work. <\/span>These beds had <\/span>become <\/span>overgrown and <\/span>neglected<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Seven<\/span> club volunteers <\/span>again donned their gloves and wellington boots and armed with trowels, forks, spades and secateurs set about their work. A couple of hours later the raised beds looked refreshed although a little bare following the removal of at least a dozen bags of weeds and <\/span>overgrown <\/span>greenery<\/span>,<\/span> which was promptly recycled. <\/span>Existing plants were divided and replanted and a few new <\/span>ones<\/span> introduced.<\/span> Supported by a small grant from Lichfield City Council<\/a> plans were well and truly in place <\/span>for<\/span> new plants <\/span>to <\/span>herald the arrival of spring<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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 <\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Throughout the winter months Lichfield Soroptimists could occasionally be spotted <\/span>at Lichfield Cathedral <\/span>sweeping the paths, and keeping the garden<\/span> neat and tidy or weeding the raised beds in the City centre.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once the Covid-19 pandemic is over, we will <\/span>return <\/span>once again <\/span>to <\/span>tend the garden and <\/span>raised <\/span>beds <\/span>in the hope of attracting <\/span>pollinating insects<\/span>whilst<\/span>supporting the mental health and well-being of residents and visitors in <\/span>Lichfield.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

UPDATE in Late May 2020, two of our members – having implemented correct social distancing and PPE measures – managed to do an extensive and much-needed tidy up of these raised beds. There weren’t many people around, but several passers-by thanked them (from a distance) for their hard work and complimented our Club on its efforts.<\/p>\n

\"Socially<\/a>
Socially distanced gardening in Lichfield City Centre – Before<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Socially<\/a>
And after!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Like many Soroptimists, Lichfield & District Club is keen to do all it can to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":735,"featured_media":4790,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[60,35,38,36,37,39],"class_list":["post-4785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-club-news","tag-soroptimistsvolunteer","tag-environment","tag-mental-health","tag-planet","tag-pollinators","tag-well-being"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat can we do to help our pollinating insects...and ourselves? | News | Blog | Events | SI Lichfield and District<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"SI Lichfield and District : Blog & News : What can we do to help our pollinating insects...and ourselves? : Keep up to date with the latest news, articles and events from the Soroptimists of SI Lichfield and District . 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