| answer text |
<p>This is a devolved matter and the below information relates to England only.</p><p>
</p><p>Natural England estimates that over £125 million has been allocated to support
the sowing of wildflowers across Environmental Stewardship and Countryside Stewardship
options, on agreements put in place between 2005 and the end of 2018.</p><p> </p><p>This
expenditure on wildflower options, such as flower-rich margins or pollen and nectar
mixtures, represents only a small proportion of total expenditure on habitats for
bees, which will also benefit from payments for managing existing habitat such as
protected sites or hedgerows.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is spending £2.9 billion
on agri-environment schemes in England funded through our seven year Rural Development
Programme. This funding will support the provision of habitat for bees and other wildlife.</p><p>
</p><p>In 2015, Defra introduced the ‘Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package’ to
Countryside Stewardship, to make it easier for farmers to provide flower-rich margins
or pollen and nectar plots on fields to support wild pollinators. The package ensures
that a minimum of 3% of the farm is converted to habitat for farm wildlife including
bees and other pollinators.</p><p> </p>
|
|
