A STIRLING-based environmental group have finished as runners-up in a nationwide search for community groups’ sustainable ideas and initiatives to benefit their surrounding environments.

On the Verge, who work with community groups to support the declining bee population, came second after impressing judges with their proposal to establish wildflower hubs that would grow to help the Scottish native bee population, helping to encourage children to learn about biodiversity and the importance of creating sites to help Scotland’s wildlife thrive.

The competition was organised by WWF Scotland People’s Postcode Lottery, whose players raise millions of pounds for charities and local communities annually.

Founder and chairperson of On the Verge, Leigh Biagi, said: “It’s great to have this show of support for our project from WWF Scotland and People’s Postcode Lottery. The wildflower seeds will enable us to continue our valuable work with schools and community groups to develop sites that will actively benefit our declining population of native bees.” As a contribution to the ambitious community project, WWF Scotland will provide gardening vouchers to help the project develop an active biodiversity habitat in an urban setting.

The community-wide project will involve a number of local groups including schools, brownies, scouts and mental health organisations, helping them create wildlife friendly areas in their locale.

Groups will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the environment and will see the role flowers make to nature’s lifecycle, complimenting Eco School’s curriculum.

Director of WWF Scotland, Lang Banks, said: “Although On the Verge project missed out on the top prize, we were impressed with the benefits that the project could bring to both the local community and the positive impact it could realise on our native bee population in the future.”