Study finds crucial work to support pollinating insects

Projects have been taking place across Scotland to provide more suitable environments for pollinating insects.

Projects across Scotland have provided crucial help for bees, hoverflies and other pollinators over the last year.

A new progress report published by NatureScot highlights the huge amount of work being undertaken by a wide range of organisations and individuals to implement the Pollinator Strategy for Scotland.

Pollinators are vital for our biodiversity, but populations face challenges due to changes in land use, habitat loss, diseases, pesticides and climate change.

The aim of the strategy is to make Scotland more pollinator-friendly, halting and reversing the decline in native pollinator populations.

Success stories in 2021 included the sowing of dozens of new wildflower meadows and improvements to road verge habitat.

Projects also created ‘wild’ spaces in school grounds and established improved community greenspaces and pollinator hotspots, as well as planting countless pollinator-friendly spring bulbs, fruit trees and hedgerows.

Hundreds of volunteers also signed up to do their bit, from bulb planting and meadow maintenance to insect identification and surveying.

For tips on how to help pollinators at home see NatureScot’s Make Space For Nature campaign.

Jim Jeffrey, NatureScot Pollinator Strategy Manager, said: “This latest progress report comes on the back of Glasgow hosting COP26, and there is no doubt now that the twin challenges of climate change and nature loss are in the forefront of everyone’s minds.

“Scotland is doing its utmost to address pollinator declines and we are fortunate that so many individuals and organisations recognise their plight and are taking steps to help these vital insects.

“It’s particularly encouraging to see local authorities increasingly embracing opportunities to manage public spaces in a wildlife-friendly way, making space for nature by reducing mowing and planting for pollinators.

“At NatureScot we are pleased to have been able to support many projects through the Scottish Government’s Biodiversity Challenge Fund and look forward to building on this work through the new £65m Nature Restoration Fund.”