Learning about bumble bees in Insect Week
Residents go on a wildflower walk, plus ideas about what you can do to help stop Insectageddon!
Nine residents went on a walk, with Eric, the Really Wild Lockleaze project Ecologist, to learn about bumblebees across the beautiful fields of Stoke Park. Despite the slightly rainy start, we managed to catch six bumble bees in nets and pop them in examination pots to see what species they were (all red tail, and carder bumble bees). We learnt how they love leguminous wildflowers like clover, vetch, and birds foot trefoil. Eric reminded us that we should always release them where we caught them so they can find their way home!
Resident Hannah said “I think its fascinating because before I just thought they were all one type of bumble bee”
Resident Deborah said she learnt “lots about plants and bees. Very inspiring and informative! ‘‘
It’s insect week!
This walk was in the middle of Insect Week Insects are so important to us, and are in a critical crisis.
It is said that because we have lost 75% of the biomass of our insect populations, we are 75% of the way to human extinction. When they go, we go. It really is as stark as that.
The decline of insects must be reversed immediately, as they are the basis for the whole food chain and the web of life. They pollinate crops, and are important food sources for birds, fish, amphibians, and mammals.
What can you do to help insects?
Stop using chemicals in your garden
Grow native plants.
Allow dead plant material to accumulate in your garden - twigs, leaves, logs etc.
Collect rock piles or make dry stone walls,
Create ponds - big and small
Grow long grass and meadows.
Put up Bee and bug hotels
Stop tidying! Don’t tidy up your dead leaves, and seed heads - allow them to over winter.
Next Events:
June 29th 9.30am-15.30pm: Bumble Identification workshop
July 19th 4 - 6pm: Butterfly walk
July 20th 4-6pm: Seed Collecting walk: Yellow Rattle Seed
Contact us to book on!
Call in at the Hub to meet us, or contact our Project Co-ordinator Eleanor at reallywild@lockleazent.co.uk
