PLANS to create new meadows of wildflowers in York have been launched by a national charity.

York’s Buzzing is the latest project by environmental charity Buglife.

It has been set up with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, City of York Council and York Friends Of The Earth, to transform an area 50 times the size of York Minster’s nave into wildflower areas.

Organisers hope the project will help reverse the loss of the habitats of butterfly, moth, hoverfly and bumblebee, which all help pollinate the country.

It is believed that the project will restore more than seven hectares of wildflower meadows at eight sites in the city.

Councillor Sonja Crisp, City of York Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said: “This is a fantastic project! “It builds on our commitment to further improve our parks and open spaces by supporting pollinators with a greater diversity of wildflowers.”

Sites to be transformed include areas of the Bar Walls, parts of West Bank Park and Monk Stray and around the Millennium Bridge.

The project has already acquired funding of £20,000. It hopes to raise more money from businesses and residents in the city.

Vicky Kindemba, Conservation Delivery Manager for Buglife, who is leading the project, said “This is a great project for the City of York.

“We hope that local residents, visitors and businesses will engage with it and also help us with our further fundraising.”

To find out more about the project email info@buglife.org.uk or to donate towards the project simply text “Buzz14” followed by the amount you want to donate - for example “Buzz14£3” or “Buzz14£5.”

For more information or tips on how to help wildlife visit the website at buglife.org.uk