The Mayor is encouraging all Bath and North East Somerset residents to take as many bug-friendly actions as possible this summer, as insect numbers are declining at a rapid rate. This has set alarm bells ringing for Dan Norris, who hopes that the West of England can become the bee and pollinator capital of the UK.

Across Bath and North East Somerset, schoolchildren are being given a summer challenge to build “bug hotels” out of simple items like plastic drinks bottles and string - to give these crucial pollinators a home.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris has been learning how to help. On Thursday, 6th June, the Metro Mayor was shown how to build his own bug mansion with the help of The Conservation Volunteers and Pensford schoolchildren at Pensford Recreation Ground as part of the Mayoral Combined Authority-funded Bee Bold Pensford programme.

Dan said, “Bugs matter in Bath and North East Somerset. But they’ve had a rough few years – with the climate crisis, habitat loss and pesticide use just some of the challenges they face. And that spells trouble for our region.”

 “Luckily, through steps like taking part in the vital Bugs Matter survey, we can build a better picture of the health of our insects, or by grabbing some twigs and leafy material from around your garden to build actual bug mansions, we can all do our bit for the West’s vital creepy crawly friends.”