Driving up bee populations
Wildflowers are being boosted on North Devon verges to help bumblebees thrive, reports Lewis Clarke
BUMBLEBEES and wildflowers are making a comeback along road verges in North Devon. Braunton Parish Council has purchased new machinery to collect grass cuttings from its road verges to help increase wildflowers for pollinating insects, such as bees and butterflies.
Many road verges are managed by leaving grass cuttings in place due to a lack of equipment to collect them. This raises soil fertility and because most wildflowers require low nutrient levels, enabling them to out compete vigorous grasses, this management results in species-poor verges of little value to nature.
Collecting the cuttings is seen as a simple solution to keep fertility down and increase pollinator numbers.
Bumblebees are key pollinators of crops and wildflowers and by increasing wildflowers on road verges they become potential bumblebee highways offering a green route through towns and villages, helping bumblebees move from one place to another by providing valuable food sources.
The machinery was purchased with funding from the North Devon AONB’s Nature and Climate Challenge Fund, Braunton Parish Council and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust through the charity’s West Country Buzz project.
Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s conservation officer Cathy Horsley said: “Over 97 per cent of the UK’s wildflower meadows have been lost, and many associated insects are in decline, including the Brown-banded carder bumblebee. Braunton is a key area in Devon for this species. This new management is really exciting because it will create connected grassland habitat and help this special bumblebee survive and thrive”.
Braunton has engaged with the former Life on the Verges project, and has an enthusiastic and dedicated community of volunteers who successfully manage various verges around the town, inspiring local residents to connect with nature.
Braunton Parish Council is asking more local residents to adopt a road verge in the village. Parish clerk Tracey Lovell said: “We are keen to encourage residents and community groups to manage verges for wildlife where safe to do so. To get started managing your road verge you need to contact the Devon County Council Environmental Group to understand what is required and arrange to do an online safety awareness training course.” Email the Parish Council at info@braunontparishcouncil.gov.uk or call 01271 812131.