Members of the Nature Action Plan WG with the award

Knutsford now a ‘Bee Friendly Town’

Knutsford has been accredited as a Bee Friendly Town.

The award, announced to coincide with World Bee Day (20th May), recognises communities which have taken action to support pollinators and is awarded by the Bee Friendly Trust.

Knutsford has been recognised for the work, led by Knutsford Town Council through its Nature Action Plan, which has seen wildflower meadows sown and a permanent educational bee trail created in 2025. The award follows the ‘Bees Needs’ accolade awarded to Knutsford by DEFRA in 2025.

Emma Pritchard of the Bee Friendly Trust praised the town’s application: “The judges really enjoyed reading about everything that you have been doing to support bees and pollinators in your area. They particularly loved your 5km Bee Trail – what a fantastic way of engaging and inspiring your community.”

To celebrate the award, residents can collect free wildflower seed packets, along with a sticker and window sticker from Knutsford Library, Knutsford Market Hall and Knutsford Olde Sweet Shoppe. They are available from 20th May until stocks run out and were donated by the Bee Friendly Trust.

You can read more about the Knutsford Bee Trail and positive action you can take to support pollinators at www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/bee-trail.

An aerial view of the Moor

Knutsford Bee Day to launch new bee trail

A bee-centric event is taking place on the Moor next Saturday as part of World Bee Day.

Knutsford Town Council is hosting the event from 2pm to 4pm on Saturday 17th May ahead of World Bee Day on 20th May.

The event will feature talks from Chester University on biodiversity and Manchester Bee Sanctuary will be giving talks about our most prolific pollinators – the bees!

Knutsford Bake Club are running a bee-themed bake sale with organic cordials and children can also hunt out the different bees hiding around the Moor. The event will also launch a new photographic competition being run in conjunction with Knutsford Photographic Society.

The event is to mark the launch of the Knutsford Bee Trail, a new 3.4mile circular walk designed to promote awareness of the importance of pollinators. The Knutsford Bee Trail is being officially launched by Esther McVey MP and the new Mayor of Knutsford.

Visitors to the Bee Day event will also be able to find out more about the practical steps they can take to support pollinating insects like bees and contribute to the Knutsford ‘Bee a Hero’ Pledge Board. The first 100 attendees will receive a packet of wildflower seeds to grow their own pollinator patches at home, and visitors can be in with a chance of winning a bee hotel for their garden. There will also be some pollinator colouring to do, and the chance to find out more about pollinators, including which everyday foods would be affected by a continued decline in pollinators across the world.

The event will also be the first place to pick up a map of the new 3.5 mile Knutsford Bee Trail walk.

“This event is all about raising awareness of what we can all do to support pollinating insects which are vital to our ecosystem and our food supply, and it launches our exciting new permanent bee trail too” said Cllr April Johnson, lead member of the town council’s Nature Action Plan.

“There are so many practical things we can all do in our town to make a huge difference to wild bees and other pollinators. We want them to thrive here. We look forward to seeing you there and together as a town pledging to do more to support our bees”

The Knutsford Bee Trail will be launched at the event and a route map available from the Town Council website from Saturday.