Parish Pollinator Pledge toolkit
Find advice and guidance to help your organisation carry out your Pollinator Pledge, including tips for practical habitat management, and inspiring your local communities to act.
For more ideas and ways to get your community involved, sign up to our mailing list or attend one of our networking sessions. If you want to get involved independently, check out our page for individuals for more guidance.
Practical Habitat Management
Guide to mapping your habitats
Creating a map showing all the habitats, boundaries, and adjoining land usage is a good place to start when managing your land. Read our guide and view our example to get started:
Surveys and Monitoring
Check existing data for your area
Before planning any practical work, it is important to know what species you already have on your land.
The Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC) is a great source of information. Apply to see what existing data they have for your area using their online data request.
You may also want to have a survey conducted, or carry out your own baseline surveys. There are many experts who may be able to help, including Hampshire Countryside Service staff, National Park Rangers, and local recorders. You may be able to get assistance from local Species Recording Groups or search for Natural History Groups in your local area.
Monitoring your own progress
At Hampshire Countryside Service we use two simplified surveys to monitor the suitability of habitats for pollinators. These surveys have been designed so that they can be carried out by people of all abilities.
- Pollinator abundance count: the results from this count will measure the number of pollinators at your site. This data can be compared from one year to the next, to tell you if your management is working. It’s important that this survey is carried out before management work is started.
Pollinator Count Form
Pollinator Count ID
Template for Pollinator Count Totals
- Grassland Rapid Assessment: this will assess the abundance and diversity of plants at your location. The data can then be compared over time to see the impact of your management. It’s important that this survey is carried out before management work is started.
Grassland Vegetation Rapid Assessment
Template for Results of Grassland Vegetation Rapid Assessments
If you need more in-depth surveys, first establish the desired outcomes for your project, particularly which species you want to monitor. You may be able to get assistance from local Species Recording Groups or search for Natural History Groups in your local area.
Take action
Once you’ve completed these two steps, it’s time to think about how you can improve your land for pollinators. Use our guides for further advice:
Contact us
Use this form to contact our team about the Parish Pollinator Pledge.
Information and guidance
Pollinators
External sources of information and useful links:
British Wildflower Plants
Grower and seller of native wildflower plants, seeds, and trees. Specialising in jumbo plug plants.
British Wildflower Seeds
UK origin wildflower seed from Habitat Aid - for small seed quantities.
Buglife - B-Lines
B-Lines are an imaginative and beautiful solution to the problem of the loss of flowers and pollinators.
Buglife - Pollinators
Information, facts and and pollinator identification guidance.
The Greening Campaign
The Greening Campaign tackles climate change at a community level where everyone is included and everyone has a role to play.
Habitat Aid - Wildflower Seed
UK origin wildflower seed from Habitat Aid - for large seed quantities.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Take action to help wildlife and pollinators with these handy how-to guides.
Hedgelink - Hedge Hub
Hedgelink is the ‘go to’ place for anybody seeking hedgerow knowledge and learning. Their Hedge Hub includes 400+ searchable for hedgerow knowledge and learning.
Hedgerows - CPRE Hampshire
The charity CPRE rejuvenate and restore existing hedgerows across Hampshire. They have grants available and run events such as talks and hedgelaying training workshops.
Hedgerows - People's Trust for Endangered Species
Learn how hedgerows benefit wildlife, how to survey hedgerows and most importantly how to manage them to keep them healthy and help the environment.
Herbicide alternatives
Alternatives to herbicide use in controlling weeds and other vegetation in the amenity setting.
Landlife Wildflowers
Landlife Wildflowers grow and supply a huge range of UK native wildflower seeds, wildflower plants , wildflower turf and wildflower bulbs.
Learning Through Landscapes
A UK Charity offering resources, guides and grants to help schools and other learning settings make the most of their outdoor spaces.
Magnificent Meadows
Find out how to identify, manage, restore and recreate meadows and species-rich grassland.
Meadowmania wildflowers
Supplier of British native wildflower plants and seed.
National Education Nature Park
Young people are creating a vast network of green spaces across the country by improving their school, college or nursery for both people and wildlife.
No Mow May
No Mow May is Plantlife’s annual campaign calling on all garden owners and green space managers not to mow during May.
Pesticide Action Network
Promoting safe and sustainable alternatives to hazardous pesticides.
Plantlife Meadows' Hub
Everything you ever wanted to know about making and looking after meadows.
Plantlife Shop – Wildflower Seed
Wildflower seed for garden use only. All mixes are wild and native and have been created for various soil types found in UK.
Pollinator Pathmaker
If pollinators designed gardens, what would humans see? An artwork for pollinators by Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg.
Pollinator Trail
A brand new feature in the Staunton Farm Glasshouse. Learn more about the animals from around the world that pollinate the plants along the trail.
Team Wilder
A growing national movement led by the Wildlife Trusts. Packed with handy tips and specialist support is offered to join or set up Wilder Communities.
Further survey advice
The Great British Hedgerow Survey
A survey to assess hedgerow health with guidance for future management.
Hedgerow Survey Handbook
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs handbook which gives readers information about the standard procedure for local surveys in the UK.
Hedgerow Identification Guide
A useful hedgerow identification guide prepared as part of the OPAL Biodiversity Study.
Field Studies Council's hedgerow guide
FSC Hedgerow guide to help you ID hedgerow species.
Surveying for Amphibians
Tips, techniques, and skills to help you survey for amphibians.
Pond Wildlife Surveys
A range of surveys and identification guides to help you monitor the wildlife in ponds.
Hants Moths
Identify moths by referring to the Flying Tonight guide.
Ancient and veteran trees
This Woodland Trust guide details how to record and assess impacts on ancient and veteran trees.
The National Biodiversity Network Gateway
A UK wide database of biodiversity information and species records.