It is official, Letchworth is officially a bee-friendly town after being crowned by the Bee Friendly Trust.

Applying for the Bee Friendly Award was initiated and spearheaded by North Herts Council's grounds maintenance contractor John O'Conner, and supported by the local community.

It has involved establishing a bee corridor, residents growing bee friendly plants in their gardens, identifying new areas for wildflower growth and holding a community event to raise awareness of the importance of bees.

Developing a corridor around the town – taking in places such as Howard Park, The Wynd and the UK's first roundabout – included planting nectar-rich flowers to help them buzz around more easily and increase their numbers.

The council replanted roundabouts and grass verges, and local residents, businesses, schools and community groups also got on board. 

A community seed bombing event (image by North Herts Council)

Cllr Mick Debenham, executive member for environment, leisure & greenspaces, said: "This has been such a lovely community project which wouldn't have happened without John O'Conner taking it forward and local people playing their part, so a big thanks goes to everyone who's been involved.

"Bees and other pollinators like butterflies and hoverflies are fundamental to our ecosystem and we cannot afford to lose them – 1 in 3 mouthfuls of food eaten worldwide is dependent on pollinators, from your morning cup of coffee to a lovely juicy apple!"

Karen Green, pest control manager at John O'Conner, added: "We are so proud to have been part of this amazing initiative.

"Everyone has worked so hard, and it has been a resounding success. However, when it really comes down to it, the real winners are the bees.

"They now have access to food and shelter and can move more freely around the local area.

"This will give them all they need to thrive and the town will be all the better for it. We hope to use Letchworth as a model for other towns and villages in North Herts."

The Bee Friendly Trust added: "Our mission is to create habitats for honey bees and all pollinators to thrive."

The council has allocated £10,000 to develop more bee corridors in North Herts, with Royston next on the list