Pollinators Along the Tweed
Pollinators are the animals which pollinate our wild plants and food crops by carrying pollen from flower to flower as they forage for food. In the UK wild insect pollinators include bumblebees, solitary bees (of which we have approximately 250 species), wasps, butterflies and moths (approximately 2200 species), flies and beetles.
Most plants cannot set seed without being pollinated by these pollinators, who are vital in not only facilitating crop growth but also in keeping our countryside and green spaces beautiful.
Pollinators Along the Tweed is led by Buglife.
Pollinator species are however, experiencing declines due to issues associated with climate change, use of pesticides and, increasingly, the loss of suitable habitat.
Pollinators Along the Tweed is a partnership project with Buglife Scotland which aims to restore wildflower-rich habitat along the River Tweed as part of the Destination Tweed source-to-sea river revitalisation project.
Buglife Conservation Officer, Kate O’Leary, is working with volunteers to create, restore, monitor and manage a network of wildflower-rich habitat for pollinators along the Tweed river corridor.
Work has already been undertaken at sites including Victoria Park, Mayfield Riverside Walk and Norham Castle.
Recently enhanced sites such as the Public Park Galashiels, Tweedbank Park, Priorwood Garden and Floors Castle bring the total to 22 hectares of wildflower rich habitat across 33 sites.
The project will result in the restoration and enhancement of up to 40 hectares of wildflower-rich habitat across 50 sites, contributing to Buglife’s national B-Lines initiative.
More information available at the Buglife website.
Visit Buglife website (B-Lines)