ACT for Bees and Other Pollinators has been working with the Ginninderry development in West Belconnen to incorporate pollinator corridors into the planning and design of the new community with support from the ACT Government. This initiative aims to improve habitat connectivity for pollinators while contributing to broader biodiversity outcomes across the region.

In April 2021, we hosted a conference bringing together professionals from urban design, landscape architecture, planning and development, alongside representatives from government and industry. The conference explored how pollinator-friendly planting can help create more sustainable, biodiverse and productive urban environments, highlighting the opportunities, challenges and practical considerations involved in integrating pollinator habitat into urban planning and development.

Pollinator corridors are networks of trees, shrubs, grasses and flowering plants that provide food and habitat for pollinators throughout the year. By linking gardens, parks, nature strips and public open spaces, they help native bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies and nectar-feeding birds move through the urban landscape and access the resources they need. This connectivity is particularly important for native bee species that may forage only a few hundred metres from their nests, making isolated patches of flowering plants difficult to reach.

Creating effective pollinator corridors means planting a diverse range of species with overlapping flowering periods to provide nectar and pollen across the seasons. Summer and early autumn are particularly important for many pollinators, making warm-season flowering plants a valuable addition to gardens and public spaces. Together, these plantings can create a network of 'bee banquets' across Canberra, supporting pollinators while helping build a more biodiverse and resilient city.