Peterborough buzzing as bee documentary set in city to be broadcast

TV presenter Jimmy Doherty has been working with community groups across the city for a year as he bids to raise the profile of the vital insect - and increase their population.

Twelve months a go a launch event was held in Cathedral Square with the aim of getting as many people on board as possible.

Now the results of the project will be broadcast on prime time television.

Jimmy’s Bee Rescue will be shown on Channel 4 this weekend, following the year of activities,

Richard Ferris, from Gladstone Connect in Cromwell Road, worked closely with the project over the past 12 months.

He said: “As an ecologist, I feel passionately about these things so was keen to involved. Knowing Mohammed Saeed very well, I suggested they involved Community First, too. Between us, we know a lot of people in the community and the wider city, so it was a no-brainier. The chance to do something positive at the newly-created Connect Park made for an exciting project. When Saeed and I met Jimmy, we hit it off straightaway. It was great fun to be involved with, offering us the opportunity to showcase the community and do something to improve lives, if that doesn’t sound too grand.”

During the series, Jimmy explains why bees are so important to our eco-system, and what can be done to protect them - speaking to businesses, but also explaining what can be done in residents’ gardens at home.

Environmental charity PECT have welcomed the project taking place in Peterborough, and urged residents to continue to do their bit.

PECT’s Director of Operations Stuart Dawks said: “We were delighted for Peterborough to be selected as the location for Jimmy’s Bee Rescue.

“It’s vitally important that we all look to do our bit to help boost pollinator numbers across the city and surrounding areas. Over 3 million hectares of wildflower-rich grassland has been lost in England alone over the last 70 years, leading to widespread decline in bees, moths, and insects. Whatever the size of green space you look after, even if it is just one plant pot, by choosing pollinator friendly plants you can do your bit to boost the chances for our bees.

“We are currently running the project B-Lines in Peterborough, encouraging more wildflower planting for pollinators. There’s more information about how people can get involved here: https://www.pect.org.uk/projects/b-lines/”

Jimmy’s Bee Rescue will be shown at 8pm on Channel 4 on Saturday.