Saving the small things that run the planetWales offers up a diverse landscape from the extensive stretches of coastal habitats including sand dunes, soft rock cliffs and grazing marsh, to urban and industrial areas, and large areas of farmland.
Networks of habitats including grasslands, heaths, ffridd and moorland result in unique mosaics which offer areas for our wild pollinators to forage, shelter, hibernate and move across the landscape.
Wales’s B-Lines
The area is a stronghold for rare species such as the Shrill carder bee which can be found from Monmouthshire through to Pembrokeshire, with the largest populations being found on the Gwent Levels. Interestingly, some species typically associated with coastal habitats such as the Long-horned bee are also utilising habitats further inland to forage and nest. This emphasises the importance of managing our coastal habitats as well as ensuring a connected landscape to aid species dispersal.
The rich industrial past and present of South and West Wales has given rise to a range of brownfield sites such as spoil tips, oil refineries, docks, and steel works. Brownfield sites often support mosaics of habitats and are flower rich – perfect for our pollinators. These types of sites play an important role within the B-Lines of South and West Wales.
The South and West Wales B-Lines initiative will help Buglife, our partners, landowners and communities to prioritise conservation efforts for pollinators across our rich and varied landscape. Co-ordinated approaches such as B-Lines are essential in conserving our wild pollinators and can greatly contribute towards the delivery of the Action Plan for Pollinators in Wales.
Buglife is part of the Pollinator Taskforce which oversees the delivery of the Action Plan for Pollinators in Wales. In September 2016 the Taskforce launched Bee Friendly, a new Wales-wide accreditation scheme where communities, schools, universities and businesses can help pollinators and achieve “Bee Friendly” status. Everyone has a part to play, why not get involved?!
Everyone who lives, works, owns land or goes to school on a B-Line can help, even if only in a small way.
Look at the project pages and partnership pages, to see some of the activity going on in Wales.
From £3 per month, membership directly supports our vital conservation work. In return you receive member benefits and our bi-annual Buzz magazine.
MembershipOur work would not be possible without your support. Bees and other invertebrates need help to reverse the catastrophic declines in their numbers. Please donate today and together we can restore vital habitats and rebuild strong populations of invertebrates in the UK.
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