Cornwall Council is calling on residents and businesses to help create more flower-rich green spaces to boost the population of vital pollinators.

Bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other pollinators have seen huge declines in recent years from pesticides, habitat loss and the effects of climate change posing a serious long-term risk to the world’s food supply.

The Council’s top gardening tips for making Cornwall a better place for pollinators are: Let native plants thrive in your garden - flowering ‘weeds’ are nature’s own source of colour, refuge and food; Plant pollinator-friendly plants; Avoid garden pesticides; Leave areas of your garden undisturbed and ‘naturally messy’; Cut down on lawn-mowing and Help thirsty pollinators - a sunken bin lid and bird baths are ideal watering holes for parched bees and bugs.

The Pollinator Action Plan is available on www.cornwall.gov.uk/pollinatorplan