Flora Beverley launched a community project to transform neglected Bristol alleyways into pollinator-friendly corridors after chronic illness limited her countryside running. Volunteers, mural artists and local residents converted seven alleyways in a year with nectar-rich plants, bee hotels and colourful murals. Small grants, street collections and donations fund the work, and Beverley applies for funding unpaid. Most transformations happen over a weekend, and neighbours continue to water and maintain the spaces. The project aims to connect parks and the Northern Slopes nature reserve to reduce habitat fragmentation and support diverse pollinators.
Take a closer look at the colourful plants dotted along an initially unassuming Bristol alleyway and you'll see them teeming with insects. Bumblebees, hoverflies and ladybirds throng around a mixture of catmint, yarrow, geraniums and anemones. It's buzzing with pollinators now, Flora Beverley says. Just over a year ago, the alley we are walking down was a dreary, litter-strewn dumping ground. Now, thanks to the pollinator pathways project, it is filled with nectar-rich plants and bee hotels. Colourful murals line the walls.
A trail runner and fitness influencer, Beverley started the project after a chronic illness left her unable to spend as much time running in the countryside. She wanted to bring more nature into her local community and, at the same time, help to connect important nearby habitats in Bristol including parks and the Northern Slopes nature reserve with insect-friendly corridors.
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