Community Pollinator Toolkit
Kent's Plan Bee empowers parishes and community groups to create pollinator-friendly habitats. This comprehensive toolkit provides practical guidance for supporting bees, butterflies, moths, and other essential pollinators through local conservation actions.
Get Started
Why Pollinators Matter
1/3
Food Dependency
Every third mouthful of food depends on insect pollinators
40%
Kent Agriculture
Fruit farms represent 40% of Kent's agricultural output
75%
Plant Reproduction
Three quarters of native plants rely on pollinators
Pollinators are essential to our environment, food production, and lives. They carry pollen from flower to flower, enabling fertilization for seeds, nuts, and fruit. Kent is home to 80% of British bee and moth species, making conservation efforts crucial.
Understanding Pollinator Needs
Sustenance
Nectar-rich flowers throughout the year provide essential energy for adult pollinators and food storage for offspring.
Shelter
Hibernation sites, temporary refuge from weather, and stable winter shelter in cool, north-facing locations.
Reproduction
Breeding conditions including dead wood, bare ground, hollow stems, and specific environmental characteristics.
Water Sources
Ponds, puddles, and water features meet fluid needs beyond feeding requirements.
Getting Started: Site Assessment
Habitat Survey
Print a map and identify different habitats on your site. Mark flowering hedges, long grass areas, exposed soil, natural ponds, and sunny banks.
  • Horticulture areas
  • Wetland features
  • Coastal zones
  • Heath and inland rock
Key Features to Record
Document existing pollinator resources including flower-rich borders, bramble patches, old walls, deadwood, and composting areas.
  • Sunny vs. shady areas
  • Exposed vs. sheltered spots
  • Surrounding habitat connections
  • Designated conservation sites
Essential Actions for Pollinators
Reduce Mowing
Allow flowering plants to flourish by reducing grass cutting frequency. Participate in No Mow May or alter year-round mowing regimes.
Plant Native Flowers
Add wildflower seeds, bulbs, and plug plants. Create meadow spaces with bird's-foot trefoil, common knapweed, and oxeye daisy.
Maintain Hedgerows
Plant and maintain flowering hedges with hawthorn, blackthorn, and elder. Provide year-round shelter and early spring nectar sources.
Create Water Features
Install ponds, water sources, and bog gardens. Many species need water for breeding and daily hydration needs.
Community Engagement Strategies
Educational Events
Organize pollinator walks, art sessions, and talks. Install signage explaining why changes are happening and their importance for biodiversity.
Volunteer Activities
Host volunteer planting events, seed swaps, and litter picks. Engage local schools and community groups in hands-on conservation.
Citizen Science
Participate in BioBlitzes, pollinator monitoring schemes, and species recording. Use apps like iRecord to contribute valuable data.
Success Stories from Kent
Woodchurch Village
Local school children sowed wildflowers on gifted meadow land. Now managed by Woodchurch in Bloom volunteers with year-round flowering areas.
Tenterden High Street
Community group partnered with councils to introduce flowers to town lawns, including resident communication and educational signage.
Margate Community Woods
Volunteer-managed woodland on former landfill site created flower-rich glades for pollinators alongside tree conservation efforts.
Practical Implementation Guide
01
Site Assessment
Complete habitat surveys, identify existing resources, and map pollinator opportunities across your managed areas.
02
Action Planning
Choose appropriate interventions based on site conditions, community needs, and available resources. Start small and expand gradually.
03
Community Consultation
Engage residents, explain changes, and build support through education and involvement opportunities.
04
Implementation
Execute chosen actions with volunteer help, proper timing, and appropriate materials from local suppliers.
05
Monitoring
Conduct annual species surveys using FIT counts and other monitoring schemes to track progress and adapt management.
Resources and Support
Funding Opportunities
  • Kent County Council community grants
  • National Lottery Heritage Fund
  • Supermarket community schemes
  • Local business sponsorship
Plant Suppliers
  • Emorsgate Seeds
  • NatureScape
  • Local garden centres
  • Habitat Aid
Expert Guidance
  • RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Kent Wildlife Trust resources
  • Buglife pollinator guidance
  • Butterfly Conservation advice
Recording Apps
  • iRecord for species recording
  • UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme
  • BeeWalk surveys
  • Butterfly monitoring
Join Kent's Pollinator Network
Get Connected
Contact Kent's Plan Bee team to register your participation and receive ongoing support for your pollinator projects.
Map Your Impact
Add your sites to the growing network map and Buglife's B-Lines system to show county-wide conservation efforts.
Share Success
Report completed actions for newsletter features and social media to inspire other communities across Kent.
Together, we can create a connected corridor of pollinator habitats across Kent, ensuring these essential species survive for generations to come. Every small action contributes to a larger conservation network.
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