A popular wildflower project established to support bumblebees in Sheffield has returned for a second year. 

Bee Squared is a project by Ecclesfield Parish Council to promote greater biodiversity by distributing free wildflower seeds for people in the community to create their own ‘bee squares’.

Andrew Towlerton, clerk of Ecclesfield Parish Council, said: “We want people in the parish to recognise the decline of bees and other species and think about how we can all help that.”

According to statistics from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, 2024 was the worst year on record for bumblebees in the UK, with their numbers falling by 74%.

To help to combat this decline, Bee Squared was launched in the same year in a bid to build upon the success of other similar initiatives throughout the country. 

Natalie Richardson, a project and administrative assistant responsible for running the project, said: “Bees and other pollinating insects are essential to life. 

“They are vital to both pollinate the food we all need to survive and to pollinate many of the trees and flowers that provide habitats for wildlife.”

Each packet of seeds contains enough to produce a ‘bee square’ – a one metre squared area of wildflowers – as well as providing advice on how to sow the seeds.

More than 600 packets were distributed last year by the council, resulting in hundreds of bee squares being planted across Ecclesfield.

This year, due to high demand, Bee Squared has been launched earlier than planned and the council have already received many enquiries from throughout the community, including from churches, pubs and old people’s homes. 

Mr Towlerton said: “We take our environmental responsibilities seriously because as a parish council we do have a duty to promote biodiversity.”

Ecclesfield Parish Council have previously run several other successful environmental projects and were awarded Hedgehog Hero status by the Hedgehog Preservation Society for their work to protect hedgehogs. 

They also have recently appointed Councillor Carol Levery as their first-ever official Bee Champion. 

Anyone interested in taking part and creating their own bee square can collect a free packet of wildflower seeds from the council offices at Mortomley Lane, High Green between 9am and 12pm on weekdays or by contacting communityevents@ecclesfield-pc.gov.uk.

Picture by Ecclesfield Parish Council.