PolliConnect at a local action café in Fryslân!
Our work in Friesland is a great example of what PolliConnect is all about:
Connecting people, places, and practical solutions to help wild pollinators recover across North-West Europe.
Community voices meet PolliConnect impact
While pollinator decline is a massive challenge, solutions exist and benefit from lively discussions.
In the Netherlands, PolliConnect consists of two Living Labs, including Province of Fryslân. The Province of Fryslân coordinates the Living Lab and its four PolliConnect pilots locally and shares progress and results widely with partners and the public.
Recently, we were invited to present PolliConnect at a local Green Café. The evening had a great turnout, with residents who were curious, well-informed, and ready to discuss what pollinator decline means for their landscapes and communities. We shared what PolliConnect is working on, why ecological connectivity matters, and how living labs help us test measures in real conditions together with local stakeholders. The conversations were lively and constructive, with plenty of questions and ideas that we can take forward into the next steps of the Friesland Living Lab.
Events like this matter. They turn a European project into something that feels local and tangible, and they help build the long-term engagement needed for lasting change. We left the Green Café with renewed energy, new contacts, and a shared sense that small actions, coordinated well, can add up to meaningful impact.
A sincere thank you to the Green Café organisers for the invitation, and to everyone who joined and contributed to the discussion. We are looking forward to continuing the collaboration in Friesland as the living lab work progresses. If you are a local stakeholder who would like to connect, host a conversation, or explore how your organisation can contribute, we would be delighted to hear from you.