As a Symington Community Council project, Pollinator Friendly Symington (PFS) was initiated in the early spring of 2023, born from a wildflower verge project that we began in 2021. PFS encourages gardeners in the community to garden with pollinators in mind, with the aim of building a network of habitats in which pollinators can refuel, reproduce, pollinate and hibernate. So far we have signed up 18 gardeners as 'friends' of PFS, with gardens of different size and character. Our local garden centre, Hayes Garden Land, provided free seed packets, which we handed out to signed-up friends, along with PFS garden signs. Scottish Wildlife Trust's Nectar Network has guided us throughout, providing lots of useful material, and is always available to help us progress. And SWT's new project; Nextdoor Nature, is currently filming PFS activities in order to release on its website a five minute video as its first of several showcases of community led conservation projects in Scotland. Recent events include a bat walk, led by a South Ayrshire Ranger, who also lent us a moth trap, which was used in 8 different gardens and succeeded in trapping a wide variety of moths. And in September we had a 'celebration' of the project - the community aspect of the project is arguably as valuable as the nature aspect - and intend to continue to pursue such activities through the winter.
Address: 3 Symington Road North, Kilmarnock, KA1 5PZ
