As part of MWT’s Make Space for Nature campaign, flower strips were established at schools and community sites across the Island this spring and bloomed throughout the summer. These spaces, sown with a special blend of seeds under trial, have flourished into vibrant, pollinator-friendly habitats and provided an opportunity to engage people with wildlife in a practical and meaningful way.
The project offered groups across the Island the tools, guidance and resources to sow and care for their own flower areas, and observe the bees, butterflies, and other insects they attracted. Manx-grown seeds harvested by MWT volunteers boosted the mix to support native species.
This initiative has helped to inform next steps on the feasibility of making a locally informed seed blend more widely available in the Isle of Man. The mix used in the trial was designed to be wildlife-friendly with no need for peat or pesticide use, attractive and well suited to Island conditions.
The project leaves behind a legacy of colourful, buzzing spaces and a deeper understanding of how the Island can help pollinators thrive. While the next steps for the seed mix are yet to be confirmed, the experience has laid a strong foundation for future community-led pollinator projects.
Ørsted’s Biodiversity Lead Specialist, Samir Whitaker, added: “It’s inspiring to see what can be achieved when people come together to support nature. The results of this project speak for themselves; the flower strips are not only beautiful but buzzing with life. We're proud to have supported this work through this collaboration with Manx Wildlife Trust."
Photos of the beautiful flowers, gardens and community spaces that have resulted from the project can be seen at https://www.mwt.im/pollinators which also has practical advice about how to make any garden or green space more pollinator-friendly.