Cliffe Castle Buzzing with Success in Bees Needs Awards 2024

Keighley’s Cliffe Castle has been officially recognised as the epitome of environmental excellence, clinching the prestigious Bees Needs Award for 2024.

The accolade, backed by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), was awarded to the Cliffe Castle Support Group (CCSG) for their remarkable efforts in protecting and supporting pollinating insects in the Bradford Council-run park.

The CCSG has significantly bolstered community engagement, orchestrating a diverse array of activities that cater to all ages and abilities. These efforts, in collaboration with local organisations, volunteers, and individuals, have extended the group’s community reach and heightened awareness of their mission to enhance pollinator survival across Cliffe Castle.

A standout feature of their work, highlighted by the judges, is the ongoing project in the orchard area. Partnering with Fruit Works and Eastwood Community School, CCSG has transformed the orchard meadow bed into a vibrant habitat teeming with wildflowers. These flowers serve as critical data points for April to September Flower Insect Timed Pollinator counts and Bee Identification Sessions, which involve the public and local schools, fostering awareness and encouraging positive attitudes towards pollinators.

The orchard’s new planting initiative, featuring over a dozen varieties of fruit trees, provides an ever-increasing supply of spring feed for pollinators. This project, involving children and parents from the local community, ensures the trees’ prosperity and the pollinators’ sustenance.

Additionally, the Rock Work area has been identified as a bee nesting site and the group ensures these nests remain undisturbed while enhancing and maintaining the area.

Cliffe Castle has also observed a notable increase in its insect population during their regular bat walks, led by Ian Butterfield of Yor Green CIC. This surge in insects, alongside the introduction of a no-mow regime, has boosted the bat population, providing an ample food supply.

Family pollinator walks during the summer holidays have highlighted the park’s diverse bee habitats, offering participants close-up encounters with wild bees. These walks aim to reduce fear and stimulate curiosity about these essential insects.

Winter Tree ID walks have shed light on the critical habitats provided by trees during autumn and winter, illustrating how these habitats support pollinator survival amidst environmental challenges such as pollution and climate change.

Val Preston, a spokesperson for CCSG, expressed her delight at the award:

“We are delighted in winning the Bees Needs Award 2024, it is a great achievement for everyone involved at Cliffe Castle, we and our community are passionate about preserving our environment and providing a safe, clean space for pollinators and people.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, also praised the group’s efforts:

“The activities of the Cliffe Castle Support Group has increased knowledge and interest in pollinators and has clarified the purpose of new pollinator-friendly maintenance methods, replacing complaints of untidiness with a curiosity about what they are achieving. I’d like to congratulate the members of the group and thank them for their dedication.”

Cliffe Castle’s triumph in the Bees Needs Awards underscores the vital role community-driven initiatives play in environmental conservation and highlights the park as a beacon of ecological stewardship.

Image Credits: Bradford Council