Plea to make Stray bee-friendly as part of major re-planting on West Park in Harrogate

The scene at Harrogate's West Park may finally be improving with plans to plant thousands of crocuses but there are new calls to make the Stray more 'bee-friendly' instead.
By Graham Chalmers
Published 29th Sep 2020, 15:52 BST
Updated 29th Sep 2020, 15:56 BST
Bio-diversity boost? An artist's impression of how West Park Stray would look if replanting was made more like a wild meadow. (Image courtesy of Harrogate Green Party)Bio-diversity boost? An artist's impression of how West Park Stray would look if replanting was made more like a wild meadow. (Image courtesy of Harrogate Green Party)
Bio-diversity boost? An artist's impression of how West Park Stray would look if replanting was made more like a wild meadow. (Image courtesy of Harrogate Green Party)

As the grass returns and Harrogate Borough Council looks for volunteers to help plant 60,000 crocuses, Harrogate and District Green Party believes there should be greater focus on creating bio-diversity on the parkland in the town centre in the spirit of traditional wildflower meadows.

Rebecca Maunder, Harrogate, and District Green Party campaigner said: “The crocuses look beautiful during the spring but we now have a fantastic opportunity to really bring the Stray to life with nature.

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"We are asking local residents to implore Harrogate Borough Council to expand their planting to include native wildflowers not only on the West Park part of the Stray but other areas as well, such as Tewit Well and Christ Church

West Park Stray reimagined as bee-friendly. (Image courtesy of Harrogate Green Party)West Park Stray reimagined as bee-friendly. (Image courtesy of Harrogate Green Party)
West Park Stray reimagined as bee-friendly. (Image courtesy of Harrogate Green Party)

"In doing so, we can really live up to our Harrogate in Bloom name, for the benefit of the community and to have a positive effect on the environment at the same time."

Harrogate Green Party believes it is possible to make the Stray bee-friendly with native wildflowers, wild daffodils, and other plants which would help bees.

In the context of the current 40% decline of insects in the UK, it argues the council should make use of wildflower verges or prairie planting which is a mixture of grasses and flowering perennials, which would be most effective in larger areas and would offer a relaxed, naturalistic feel.

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Campaigner Rebecca Maunder said: “Harrogate is uniquely placed, more so than many other towns and cities due to the 200 acres of community space that the Stray provides.

"For decades it has been a place the local community enjoys. We want to ensure its effectiveness for future generations, and make sure it is

also a place for nature.

"We need to play our part in re-addressing the dwindling insect numbers in the UK and this is a great opportunity that we should not miss.”

The public are asked to let Harrogate Green Party know if you have written in favour of increasing biodiversity by contacting

Rebecca Maunder at [email protected]

For more information, visit www.harrogate.greenparty.org.uk

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Related topics:HarrogateHarrogate Borough CouncilGreen Party