Flower project boosted pollinating insects - study

The University of Exeter said it partnered with Cornwall Council and civil engineering firm Cormac for the project

Planting flowers in urban green spaces across Cornwall "significantly boosted numbers" of pollinating insects, new research has showed.

The University of Exeter said it partnered with Cornwall Council and civil engineering firm Cormac to plant flowers, trees and shrubbery across 78 hectares in 15 Cornish towns.

They were planted in places including parks, small green spaces, road verges and closed churchyards.

Scientists at the university said the wildflowers led to a "two-fold increase" in flower visits by certain pollinators, particularly solitary bees and solitary wasps.

The University of Exeter said flowers, trees and shrubbery were planted in 15 spaces across Cornish towns

The project focused on towns including Bodmin, Falmouth, Hayle, Helston, Redruth, Camborne, Penzance, Pool, Launceston, Liskeard, Saltash, Newquay, Bude, Penryn and St Austell.

PhD student Oliver Poole, who led the study, said: "We studied 50 paired sites across 10 of these towns, which were either left as normal (mostly mown grass) or planted with wildflowers or a combination of wildflowers and non-native ornamental flowers.

"These didn't take up large areas - no more than 20% of space was used - but the results show urban green spaces can provide a vital refuge for pollinators, while also being appealing and enjoyable places for people."

Councillor Martyn Alvey, the council's portfolio holder for environment and climate change, said the spaces had been transformed into "rich and diverse habitats".

"Working with the university has allowed the council to evidence the value of these enhancements and the importance of creating them for pollinators," he said.

Cormac's making space for nature manager Melissa Ralph said the project showed how Cornwall could "reverse" a decline in insects.