B-Lines North England

(c) Hayley Herridge

The north of England has a very diverse landscape which stretches from the extensive east coastal strip through intensively farmed areas, post-industrial and urbanised areas to the uplands of the Pennines and Cheviots , then the iconic uplands of the Lake District and Forest of Bowland, through significant areas of productive farmland in major river valley including the Ribble and the Eden to an extensive coastline. This landscape supports a wide range of high quality wildflower-rich habitats including coastal sand dunes, limestone pavements and grasslands, upland hay meadows and areas associated with existing or post industrial sites. Special areas for pollinators include the limestone habitats of Arnside and Silverdale and South Lakeland and a wide range of high quality wildflower-rich habitats such as coastal sand dunes, rare magnesian limestone grasslands, Whin grasslands, upland hay meadows and lowland heaths

The B-Lines in the  north were mapped with help from local and national conservation partners and identify a network which aims to link together wildflower-rich habitats. They will be used by Buglife and our partners to prioritise conservation efforts for pollinators across this rich and varied landscape.  We want partners to work with us to expand and reconnect wildflower-rich sites across the region, boosting the numbers of pollinating insects in our countryside and helping other wildlife such as bats.

Are you on a B-Line?  Look on the map above and find out what is happening in the north of England.

There are several highly successful projects carrying out wildflower-rich grassland  restoration within sections of the B-Lines network including:

Cumbria Wildlife Trust are leading the Get Cumbria Buzzing project working with local communities, with Highways England and a wide range of partners to take action for pollinator along B-Lines across North West Cumbria

The Bee Together project aims to connect communities and landscapes to reverse the decline of wild pollinators along the B-Lines between Leeds and Lancaster and is led by Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust

Everyone who lives, works, owns land or goes to school on a B-Line can help, even if only in a small way.

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