Environment & Energy

highplainsdem

(52,832 posts) Fri Nov 29, 2024, 10:10 AM Nov 29

Bumblebee population increases 116 times over in 'remarkable' Scotland rewilding project

Very encouraging news, with before-and-after photos.

https://www.scotsman.com/hays-way/bumblebee-population-increases-116-times-over-in-remarkable-scotland-project-4882622

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Rewilding Denmarkfield, a 90-acre project based just north of Perth, has been working to restore nature to green spaces in an increasingly built up area for the past two years.

Statistics from the charity show in 2021, when some of the fields managed by the project were still barley monoculture, only 35 bumblebees were counted.

But by 2023, after just two years of nature restoration work in the same fields, the population increased to 4,056. The diversity of bumblebee also doubled, according to the charity, from five to ten different species.

-snip-

But Rewilding Denmarkfield said its work showed how even when surrounded by urban sprawl and intensive farmland, pollinators can make a comeback if nature is given a chance.

4 replies

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Highlight:

Bumblebee population increases 116 times over in 'remarkable' Scotland rewilding project (Original Post) highplainsdem Nov 29 OP

I have a small farm that proves this true Farmer-Rick Nov 29 #1

You've been blessed by them OKIsItJustMe Nov 29 #3

we need the whole web. pansypoo53219 Nov 29 #2

Thank you for this good news Wild blueberry Nov 29 #4

Farmer-Rick

(11,538 posts)

1. I have a small farm that proves this true

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Nov 29, 2024, 12:42 PM

Nov 29

For other insects too.

It's like a strip of land with 2 neighbors who pasture cattle and horses on either side of me. Their pasture land is barely supporting the animals. It's definitely over grazed. And they use industrial strength weed killer on their fences.

On the other hand, I try very hard to be organic and natural in all my field management. No petroleum based pesticides, no round up, no artificial fertilizers and no over grazing. (I have lichen everywhere but it stops at my side of the fence. On their side there is no lichen weird ...)

I have watched swarms of butterflies (flutter? They may have been monarchs) land on my maple trees. They will flutter back and forth inside my fence line. At first I thought they were leaves blowing off the trees....but there was no wind.

Then in one swarm, about 15 minutes later, they will fly up in a column. Straight up. None of them go to my neighbors' property. They just stop on my property. This has happened 3 times that I have been able to witness.

Insects do know where it's safe. And even a small strip of land in the middle of nowhere can be a safe haven for them.

I also have a ton of bumblebees. They love my saffron flowers in the fall. The carpenter bee is the most efficient pollinators of the passion flower and the flower vine grows all over....especially in the chicken field...don't know why it likes the chicken fields.