2nd November 2011
The B-Lines workshop entitled “Making Landscapes work for pollinators – now and into the future: the role of B-Lines” brought together over 30 people from across the country for a day of discussion and debate.
 OPAL (Open Air Laboratories)_small.jpg) |
| Bumblebee on Common knapweed (Centaurea nigra) © The Open Air Laboratories |
Researchers from Leeds, York, Newcastle and Cambridge Universities, were joined by representatives from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), Scottish Agricultural College and the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), to debate current scientific research, while representatives from a range of other organisations including Natural England, National Farmers Union, Country Landowners Association, Plantlife and Conservation Grade provided expert advice on land management and conservation issues.
The morning session of the workshop, chaired by Prof Dave Raffaelli (Director of the Biodiversity & Ecosystem Service Sustainability Research Programme) explored current evidence on pollinator habitat requirements, and reviewed how effective current conservation and farming programmes were being at protecting pollinators. Further workshop sessions looked at how we could do things better and debated new ideas and models for delivering pollinator conservation. In the afternoon, the group went on to discuss a range of questions concerning how to develop the B-Lines, including practical delivery issues, key habitats and funding.
Paul Evans, Buglife’s B-Lines Officer said “I am delighted that so many key organisations attended on the day. We had some really excellent discussions and debates, and were very pleased with the high level of support for B-Lines. We hope that the workshop will lead to continued long-term collaboration between those who attended on the day.”
For more information on the B-Lines project click on this link. To download a copy of the workshop agenda, the workshop report and the presentations please click on the links below:
Pollinators, their decline and the decline of their habitats by Matt Shardlow, Buglife CEO
Linking evidence to delivery: knowledge exchange for pollinator conservation by Lynn Dicks
Habitat recreation strategies and connectivity by Jenny Hodgson
