PLENTY of buildings, even in beautiful Salisbury, are heart-sinkingly, grimly utilitarian.

So many blank walls, not just on public buildings but around the backyards of our commercial centre as well as in residential streets, just sit there, ugly and unloved, when with a little TLC, an injection of life and colour, they could cheer us all up.

But it’s nobody’s job to do it.

Now Becky Twigg, who masterminded the transformation of St Clement’s churchyard into a thriving ‘Secret Garden’ for wildlife and the community, has come up with another inspirational project.

Called Bee City, its aim is to “green up the grey” built environment, making it hospitable for wild solitary bees, whilst encouraging us to improve our surroundings.

“It’s not all about hives and honey,” says Becky.

“Honey bees are the stars of the show when it comes to media coverage. But our focus will be on the other species of bee in the UK – all 240 of them.

“Solitary bees are more of an enigma. We need to recognise that these crucial pollinators live in our green spaces, and to look after the places where they live.”

In fact, 90 per cent of Britain’s bees are solitary bees, some scarcely larger than a grain of rice.

Yet only a few names – mason bee, wool carder, leaf cutter – will ring vague bells with readers who, like me, are more well-meaning than well-informed.

(I’ve been mugging up with the aid of an online video youtube.com/watch?v=hGhyZRY2KFc) Now, collaborating with garden designer Catherine Thomas, Becky’s seeking out walls to be beautified with flowering climbing plants.

The duo will offer advice, but the aim is for lots of people to suggest sites and muck in.

Bee boxes need to be on south-facing walls, but useful food plants such as climbing hydrangeas aren’t fussy, so any site should be usable, with the owners’ permission.

Becky’s also hoping to inspire a host of bee-related creative projects.

Schools could plant hedges and build ‘bee hotels’, businesses could plant up pots outside shops and offices, while larger employers could create habitat areas on team-building exercises.

Knitters, writers and artists could create bee-inspired artworks, while families could join in workshops at the Secret Garden, or plant seeds at home.

Becky hopes landowners will commission bee surveys, while local authorities will set aside areas to encourage ground-nesting bees. The City Council is already in talks.

And speaking of talks, nationally renowned bee expert Stuart Roberts will appear at the Playhouse as part of Salisbury Festival on Sunday June 4.

Even tourists will be able to join in the fun, with fundraising under way for a £10,000 digital Bee Trail, featuring animated images accessed by mobile phone (think Pokemon GO). Becky is looking for businesses to sponsor individual stops.

A website with lots more detail should be up and running today. Go to secretgardensalisbury.uk.

Or drop in to the Arts Centre café on Friday Feb 24 from 1-3pm to discuss ideas with Becky.

anneriddle36@gmail.com