COUNCIL chiefs in Worcestershire have voted through a blueprint to save bees - saying it is "frightening" how Britain has lost so much natural habitat in recent decades.

The county council's Conservative leadership has endorsed a package of measures to increase pollination - insisting it will educate people and give the environment a boost.

The detailed actions, first revealed in your Worcester News earlier this week, brings the prospect of school play areas and even industrial parks getting special pollinated zones.

The Tory cabinet insists no areas are off limits - and has also appealed to drivers to be careful not to unwittingly mow over roadside verges.

Councillor Anthony Blagg, the cabinet member for the environment, said: "We want future generations to realise a) where food comes from and b) how it gets there and is pollinated."

He added: "We think there's an awful lot we can do in educating the population in the value of this, I think the county council should take the lead on it."

Speaking during a cabinet meeting yesterday, he said he was keen to ensure people like parish lengthsman don't mow roadside verges down.

Councillor Adrian Hardman, the leader, said: "The future of pollinators is very important to this county, to the agricultural economy and to people's quality of life.

"This is an excellent series of actions."

During the cabinet session some backbench councillors chipped in, including Councillor Pam Davey, who urged them to consider more natural habitats around canals.

Councillor Ken Pollock said he "entirely welcomed" the policy, and asked them to avoid overzealous trimming of hedges.

"I travel around the Southern Link (Road) a lot and it does seem to be cut more than is required for safety, the same can be said for roundabouts too," he said.

"It seems neatness is the enemy and I think sometimes, we do too much."

Councillor Blagg said the "majority of contractors" and highways workers are fine but added he'd be talking to them to allow some areas to grow.

As we revealed this week the plan means countryside centres around the county, including the main one at Worcester Woods, are expected to get extra bee hives dotted around them.

A bid has also been made to the Government for extra funding so schools can create 'pollinator friendly zones' in their grounds as part of pupils' education.

Worcestershire's highways network will be examined to see if more roadside verge nature reserves can be created in suitable locations.

The project comes after years of alarming declines in bee species, which is down by a third since 2007.

Butterflies, months, beetles and hoverflies are some of the other species where numbers have tumbled.