A PROJECT to help protect and promote pollinator populations across the Vale of Pewsey is causing a buzz in the village.

The Pewsey Environment Action Team (PEAT), with support from beekeeping expert Justin Rigg, has launched a pilot initiative to establish a network of community hives, focusing on bee breeding, to try and increase numbers of the vital pollinator in the area.

Bee Pewsey hopes to help increase the declining population of pollinators and has secured North Wessex AONB funding to move forward with the project.

The first Bee Pewsey hives will be delivered in April and the bees will arrive in May.

They will be tended to by a team of trained Bee Pewsey volunteers before being divided and sold to neighbouring parishes.

Emma Pritchard, Bee Pewsey co-ordinator, said: “Great thanks are due to North Wessex Downs AONB and the management and ground staff at St Francis school, whose generous support of the project has made it possible. “We look forward to working together with the local community to help bee and other wild pollinator populations recover, and hopefully thrive, across the Vale of Pewsey.”

For more information about Bee Pewsey and to get involved contact Emma Pritchard on emmalpritchard@gmail.com