Members of Bee Friendly Monmouthshire have been out and about around Abergavenny planting signs on grass verges to discourage private contractors and council workmen from strimming wildflowers.

The signs bear the Bee Friendly symbol with the message below: ‘Do not mow while flowering’.

The same signage will also be installed by Monmouthshire County Council when the urban flowers mix is sown on roundabouts.

Chairwoman of Bee Friendly Monmouthshire Cyrene Powell says the group was ‘very disheartened’ to read the recent story in the Chronicle about the destruction of a bank of wildflowers in Wern Gifford, Pandy by a county council team subcontracted to SWTRA.

“Wildflowers don’t just appear overnight and cutting them before they seed delays their growth by a few years,” she said.

“As such, some beautiful wildflowers have naturally self-seeded and sprung up in the verges near the new roundabouts at Llanfoist.

“We’ve put the signs there as reminders to the contractors/council to please not cut them whilst they are flowering.

“We also ask the public to not take the signs - we are kindly funded by the public and not the council!”

Bee Friendly Monmouthshire has helped Gwent Best Kept Village (with GAVO) to open a pollinator-friendly award category which the group will be judging this year.

Members are also involved in an event for Gwent Wildlife trust in June, helping children and adults to identify different types of bumblebees and solitary bees and wasps.

The find out more about the group’s activities visit: www.beefriendlymonmouthshire.org

•Bees For Development and Bee Friendly Monmouthshire have this week (Tuesday May 30) launched their ‘Hedgerow Manifesto’.

It’s designed to be a ‘bible’ for supporters of the two groups and other wildlife lovers.

“Hedges and verges make up so much our countryside and are very important hotspots for pollinators,” said Cyrene.

Among other things, the booklet includes friendly tips and tricks to help hedgerows and verges recover.