Page 20 - Discovery Guide
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Lucorum on tufted vetch
found on the high moorlands, but will visit adjoining meadows if its preferred sources of nectar are present. Loss of suitable habitat is making this attractive upland species, with its distinctive amber tail, increasingly scarce in England, with no recorded sightings in the southeast of the country.
The weather has to be perfect for volunteers to conduct their ‘beewalks’ effectively – with warm sunshine, only a light breeze and no rainfall. Each volunteer has their own ‘patch’ and because many of these citizen scientists have participated in the programme since its inception, their knowledge has built up over the years.
www.forestof bowland.com
These surveys have recorded an impressive set of data over the last decade, providing a really clear picture of the health of the pollinator population and offering valuable insights into the effectiveness of meadow restoration in the Forest of Bowland.
Bumblebee abundance and the number of species present is much lower in intensively managed meadows when compared with the restored fields
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and donor sites. The season after a hay donation often triggers dramatic increases in bumblebee numbers – reaching even higher levels than found at the donor sites.
