NORTHAMPTONSHIRE RESIDENTS BUZZING AFTER WILDFLOWER DONATION AT OVERSTONE GATE

Overstone residents are being encouraged to brighten up their gardens and look after local bees and butterflies with a donation of wildflowers at Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ Overstone Gate development.

Each homebuyer has been given either a ‘Pollinator Beebom’ or a ‘Butterfly Bom’ to use in their gardens in a bid to create more wildlife friendly spaces across the village. The boms contain a mix of wildflower seeds that will grow into bright and beautiful, nectar rich flowers loved by bumblebees, honey bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects.

The donation supports Overstone Anglican Church’s vision to encourage more nature across the village and for the local area to become more wildlife friendly.

Vicar of Mears Ashby and Hardwick and Sywell with Overstone, Reverend Katrina Hutchins visited the Overstone Farm development recently to help Barratt Homes Team Leader Abi Thompson hand out the donations to the community.

Rev Katrina said: It is wonderful to think that the local bees and butterflies will be able to be able to make the gardens of Overstone Gate their café. They play such a vital role in the cycle of life and are such a delight to watch. Thank you to Barratt and David Wilson Homes for providing these boms.”

Residents just need to pull the pin of the Seedbom and drop it into the areas that need brightening up. In addition to enhancing Northamptonshire gardens, 10% of profits from the Pollinator Beeboms go directly to the Bumble Bee Conservation Trusts, helping the plight of the Bumblebee.

The wildflowers will provide a number of benefits for surrounding nature, including offering food in the form of leaves, nectar and pollen, whilst also providing insects shelter and places to breed.

Jason Hearn, Sales Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes South Midlands, said: “It’s important to us to encourage local wildlife to thrive in the areas that we build. We do this by creating open spaces for wildflowers and plants to grow so that nature has a home on the development, and through projects just like this.

“The lockdown period ignited a passion for gardens and we hope that residents enjoy watching their flowers grow throughout the year and observing nature as bees and insects alike visit their gardens.”

Findings from American Express[1] have found that people in Britain have spent an average of £105 each on their gardens during the lockdown period, with one in seven redesigning their garden or outdoor space, and 12% sharing pictures of their upgrades on social media.

Nature is of great importance to the homebuilder and Barratt and David Wilson Homes takes pride in its approach to local wildlife, therefore the development will incorporate RSPB friendly gardens and bee friendly plants and flowers which will be planted throughout the development.

Overstone Gate is a new community of two to five bedroom homes located on Overstone Farm. The new development will benefit from a brand new school and amenities on site.