Bee cafes launch in Woodbridge to save the insect in urban areas

The planters were built with the help of the volunteers and the Ipswich Community Shed group

A new project aimed at saving the bees is being launched in a town centre.

Paul Martin, 64, from Woodbridge, Suffolk, is behind Bee Cafe - a string of planters designed to fill pollen gaps in urban areas.

The planters, which contain bee-friendly blooms and a rainwater recycling system, are being opened later by mayor Eamonn O'Nolan.

Mr Martin said: "A Bee Cafe planter in the right location enables [bees] to rest and feed safely."

Woodbridge Town Council has funded the installation of 10 planters, which have been made with the help of the Ipswich Community Shed group.

"Bumblebees need to eat and rest every 40 minutes or so, or they become exhausted and drop to the ground," Mr Martin said.

"The modular wooden planters are loaded with bee-friendly blooms to help hungry and thirsty bees on their daily commute, and are being placed in areas where pollinators otherwise struggle to find the fuel they need to get from A to B."

Ten Bee Cafe planters have been installed around Woodbridge in Suffolk

The planters have been placed in prominent public locations throughout the town, including Market Hill, Kingston Field and Elmhurst Park.

Together they form the Woodbridge leg of the Norfolk and Suffolk B-Lines, a network of wildflower corridors organised by Buglife.

Each feeding station is equipped to store 100 litres (22 gallons) of water and a solar-powered pump to ensure each plant is watered daily.

Mr O'Nolan said: "We were delighted when Paul Martin approached us with his really innovative idea. The planters will provide a valuable corridor for bees to travel in. We love the idea, and look forward to installing more."

Local nursery Katie's Garden has provided the flowers, which are mostly perennial and native to the UK, such as cowslip and forget-me-not.