Pollinator Strategy - 2023 Progress Report
Published 2024
Introduction
Welcome to our sixth Annual Progress Report highlighting the wide range of projects helping deliver The Pollinator Strategy for Scotland.
This Annual Report is an opportune moment for us to acknowledge the excellent work carried out by the many partners we work with. Together we strive to make the country more pollinator-friendly, and we thank all of our partners, who range from environmental bodies, local authorities, scientific colleagues and community groups through to individuals, for taking those steps and providing these annual updates.
The subject of our 2023 annual conference was monitoring. We had presentations from a range of fantastic speakers including Butterfly Conservation’s Anthony McCluskey, Richard Comont of Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Claire Carvell and Martin Harvey of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, NatureScot’s Trends and Indicators Analyst manager Simon Foster and from overseas, John Smit from the Dutch Bumblebee Monitoring Programme and Petra Dieker from Thuenen Institute of Biodiversity. The conference was a showcase of the methods, and purpose, behind pollinator monitoring and surveying.
There are a number of significant projects taking place across Scotland which will prove to be of benefit to pollinator populations. Examples include Species on the Edge and the Irvine to Girvan Nectar Network. Moreover, the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) continues to periodically identify sizeable projects of pollinator benefit – Buglife Scotland’s ‘Pollinators Along the Tweed’ work for example is set to be enhanced by the Merlindale Meadow Project which has received NRF support.
It is a pleasure to congratulate Scotland’s Local Authorities, from the Northern Isles to the Scottish Borders, on their growing commitment to pollinator-friendly actions. The gathering in Falkirk, on mid-summer’s day, of biodiversity officers from many local authorities was a fine opportunity to share good practice and discuss both successes and challenges. From habitat creation and management, through to introducing relaxed mowing regimes, councils are often at the leading edge of pollinator-friendly practices.
Communicating what we can all do to help pollinators, celebrating successful projects and creating interest in pollinators in general remains a large part of our approach. The NatureScot Pollinator Blog is now well established as is our Twitter (or ‘X’ if you prefer) feed. These platforms can be a great way to share information and we would encourage you to visit both channels.
Encouragingly, the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMS) goes from strength to strength. It is another fine example of many bodies pulling together and it is fantastic to note that the methodology that underpins this work such as the 1km-square surveys and Flower-Insect Timed Count (FIT-Count) exercises are now being adopted overseas. The critical value of research and evidence was never more clearly demonstrated.
I’d like to finish by thanking my colleagues Isobel Morrison and Colin McLeod for their help in pulling this report together and in particular for their help in proof-reading the many entries and submissions in this document. We remain keen to hear of any projects or updates you would like to share with us. It is by working together across Scotland that we can best help pollinators.
February 2024
Our partners
Back in December 2015, we launched a consultation inviting views on proposals for pollinator conservation. The responses underlined the need for collaboration across sectors to promote action that would benefit our pollinators.
The resulting Strategy includes actions for everyone, from Scottish Government and its agencies to conservation groups, farmers, landowners, managers, gardeners, agricultural businesses, commercial businesses and members of the public.
We are reliant on, and grateful to, the following champions of the Pollinator Strategy for Scotland for their ongoing support and project skills:
- Bee Farmers’ Association
- Bee Health Improvement Team
- Buglife
- Bumblebee Conservation Trust
- Butterfly Conservation Scotland
- Central Scotland Green Network Trust
- Forest and Land Scotland
- Historic Environment Scotland
- Inverclydebuzz (Inverclyde Pollinator Corridor)
- James Hutton Institute
- Keep Scotland Beautiful
- National Farmers’ Union, Scotland (NFUS)
- Network Rail
- Plantlife
- RSPB Scotland
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
- Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture
- Scottish Government
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency
- Scottish Forestry
- Scottish Land & Estates
- Scottish Beekeepers’ Association
- Scottish Farming and Wildlife Advisers’ Group
- Scottish Quality Crops
- Scotland’s Rural College
- Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service
- Scotland’s 32 local authorities
- ScotRail
- Scottish Water
- Scottish Wildlife Trust
- Soil Association
- Sustrans Scotland
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
- University of Edinburgh
- Woodland Trust
Abbreviations
A number of abbreviations are used throughout this Progress Report:
- AECS Agri-Environment Climate Scheme
- AHDB Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
- BBCT Bumblebee Conservation Trust
- BC Butterfly Conservation
- BHIP Bee Health Improvement Partnership
- BHIT Bee Health Improvement Team
- CCLP Coalfield Communities Landscape Partnership
- CP Country Park
- UKCEH Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
- CSGNT Central Scotland Green Network Trust
- FIT Flower-insect Timed (count)
- HBHS Honey Bee Health Strategy for Scotland
- HLF Heritage Lottery Fund
- IGNN Irvine to Girvan Nectar Network
- IPM Integrated Pest Management
- JHI James Hutton Institute
- JMT John Muir Trust
- KSB Keep Scotland Beautiful
- LBAP Local Biodiversity Action Plan
- NNR National Nature Reserve
- NRF Nature Restoration Fund
- PMRP Pollinator Monitoring and Research Partnership (see PoMS)
- PoMS UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme
- RBGE Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
- RSPB Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
- SASA Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture
- SBA Scottish Beekeepers’ Association
- SFAS Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service
- SG Scottish Government
- SNHBS Scottish Native Honey Bee Society
- SQC Scottish Quality Crops
- SRUC Scotland’s Rural College
- SSEN Scottish and Southern Energy Networks
- SWT Scottish Wildlife Trust
Note: The sections which follow track the progress made towards meeting our objectives, and list projects and actions. This is a dynamic process and will be updated with new priorities and actions as necessary. A timescale is proposed for the core actions: S = short- (up to 5 years), M = medium- (5 – 10 years) or L = long-term (10 years or more).
'Managed for Wildlife' sign beside an area of long grass and wildflowers.
Objectives
Objective 1: Pollinator-friendly habitats
What we need to do:
- Prevent further habitat loss and degradation by maintaining and improving the current diversity of semi-natural habitats,
- Promote the restoration and creation of natural flower-rich habitats in the countryside and in urban areas, to support a national ecological network,
- Retain connected habitat networks for wild pollinators and extend pollinator habitats to adjacent areas,
- Implement measures to protect and enhance pollinator habitats,
- Recognise the importance of brownfield sites and manage these to benefit pollinators and other species,
- Encourage the inclusion of pollinators’ needs in land management, and development planning and management through demonstrable biodiversity net gain,
- Incorporate green infrastructure in developments, such as green roofs and rain gardens, to provide additional pollinator habitats, and
- Support the use and development of pollinator-friendly pest control measures, including integrated pest management, in agricultural and urban areas, building on the principles set out in the EU Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides.
| Project (S – short term, M – medium term, L – long term) | Organisation(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Irvine to Girvan Nectar Network (L) | Scottish Wildlife Trust North Ayrshire Council South Ayrshire Council | A Scottish Wildlife Trust-led partnership which builds connected habitat networks for wild pollinators and increases the resilience of local pollinator populations. North and South Ayrshire Councils continue to participate in the Nectar Network. |
| Pocket meadow project in Highland area (M) | Highland Council | At sites such as Clachtoll, Inchnadamph and Lochinver small meadow sites have been created with the help of schools and volunteers. Farr Glebe continues to be an important pollinator site, and is used for awareness-raising events such as ‘Sow Farr, Sow Good’. HighLife Highland Countryside Rangers have overseen creation of c60 pocket meadows across northern Scotland. |
| Local Authorities Park Managers’ Forum (S) | Greenspace Scotland | June 2023 meeting of councils held to share experience of promoting nature restoration and naturalising amenity grasslands in public park setting. |
| Post-construction reinstatement incorporating mixed planting regimes and pollinator friendly landscaping on land holdings (L) | Scottish Water | Pollinator friendly landscaping has been incorporated into post-construction reinstatement plans for operational water and wastewater treatment works at sites across Scotland. Examples include Bonnycraig Water Treatment Works near Peebles, where hedgerows, feathered trees, mixed grasses and native wildflower mixes were used to landscape the grounds of a new treatment site (photo attached). An urban pollinator mix was also integrated into the design of a decommissioned former chlorination plant at Mugdock Reservoir in Milngavie and a wet-meadow mix incorporated into the design of a SuDS pond to support post-construction reinstatement near Shieldaig Road, Glasgow. |
| Angus coastal grassland and meadow enhancements for pollinators (L) | Angus Council Tayside Biodiversity Partnership Butterfly Conservation | In 2023 communities and Angus Council continued to plant kidney vetch plug plants at numerous sites on the Angus coast in an effort to increase habitat connectivity for small blue butterfly. Kidney vetch ‘corridors’ have been enhanced in Angus since 2014. |
| Falkirk Pollinator Parks (S) | Buglife Falkirk Council | Creating flower-rich habitat for pollinators, and pollinator ‘stepping stones’, within and across urban parks in Falkirk and linking to the John Muir Pollinator Way. Project complete: These sites are now being managed in-house by Falkirk Council using cut-and-lift equipment. |
| Creation of meadows at Sibster (Wick) using wildflowers nurtured in polytunnels in Lairg (S) | Forestry and Land Scotland | Working with Caithness Environment Volunteer Group to plant two meadows at Sibster. The project’s intention is to contribute to conservation of Great Yellow bumblebee. |
| Enhancement of the Scottish canal network vegetation to favour pollinators including existing, and the creation of new, wildflower rich towpath-side grasslands, hedgerows and orchards. (L) | Scottish Canals | Lowland Canals: Enhancement of canal towpath-side meadows through pollinator friendly revised mowing regimes. Wildflower seed planting at newly refurbished access points to the Scottish Canals’ network in the Central Belt to improve pollinator provision and aesthetic quality of sites. Caledonian Canal: Native hedgerow and wildflower planting in the grounds of the newly completed Treehouse community centre beside the Caledonian Canal in Inverness. Low intensity mowing regime to favour pollinators along our towpaths. Crinan Canal: Mowing regime to favour wildflowers including a wide variety of orchids and to provide food plants for the local marsh fritillary population. Canal network wide: Control of invasive non-native terrestrial plants, in particular, Himalayan balsam, which competes with native plants for pollinator visits. |
| Glasgow improvements for nature (L) | Glasgow City Council | Six meadow sites across the city covering nearly 17 hectares. TCV manage a further five meadow sites. 22,260 small bulbs and 16,500 wildflower plugs planted across 5,500m2. Seven new meadows created this year. Flower Power nursery at Pollok Country Park maintained with volunteer support. Butterfly Conservation ran a ‘meadow creation and maintenance for butterflies and moths’ workshop. Bumblebee Conservation Trust co-ordinated nine beewalk transects. |
| Aberdeen City Council reduction of intensive management of public greenspaces. (L) | Aberdeen City Council | Creating multi-functional greenspaces which support people and nature. Several sites managed in a less intensive fashion at Culter Bypass, Fernielea Park, Kingswells Bypass, Eric Hendrie Park – Stonehaven Road, Riverside Drive, Garthdee Road, Raeden Park, Parkway former Trunk Road Verges, Skene Road Verges, and Riverview Drive. |
| Sympathetic mowing of grounds around NMS Collection Centre in Granton (M) | National Museum of Scotland | Changes to grounds maintenance implemented since 2021. Yellow Rattle sown into several areas, to promote greater plant diversity and a complimentary Scottish lowland wildflower mix sown in the main area of grassland. Majority of grassland left to grow throughout spring and summer, with just edges and pathway cut. A cut and uplift is carried out at the end of the growing season, with a few areas left uncut, to provide winter cover. Signage installed to promote the work, staff participating in invertebrate surveys. |
| Pollinator-friendly planting and community engagement in Scottish Borders (M) | Scottish Borders Council | Plans for a revised grass cutting pilot on three grass-cutting routes in Hawick. This allows vegetation to naturalise, benefitting pollinators. Supporting ‘Brighter Selkirk’ to create new orchards. With assistance from Trinity Primary School, planted 30 fruit trees in Hawick to create a community orchard. Hawick Active Trail Network – Wildflowers have been planted along the Waverley Walk in Hawick. |
| Encouraging the inclusion of pollinator needs by creating a pollinator-friendly award recognising community creation of space managed for pollinators. (M) | KSB NatureScot | Annual awards for effective community-focused pollinator-friendly projects under the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ scheme run by KSB; award funded by NatureScot. The 2023 winning project came from St Boswells in the Scottish Borders, 2022 and 2021 winner Yorkhill Green Spaces, Glasgow. |
| Biodiversity Areas project (L) | Renfrewshire Council | 34 areas under management to move away from pictorial meadows to more semi-natural grasslands. Cut and lift works have been carried out and some arisings being used as green hay. New sites being identified for similar approaches. At Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park meadow work and seed collection has been carried out |
| West Lothian pollinator-friendly actions (L) | West Lothian Council (WLC) | WLC continue to manage grasslands for pollinators including previously created 18 wildflower meadows. Ongoing maintenance of all bulb planting sites. Work continued in country parks with meadow management and conservation grazing. Work continues to reduce mowing regimes in areas of open space through consultation and community engagement. The intention is to select areas which will not affect people’s enjoyment of the parks and ultimately lead to increased areas for pollinators. |
| Creation of pollinator-friendly landscaping around NatureScot estate (L) | NatureScot | At Golspie office the planting of apple and plum trees, along with creation of a meadow area, has significantly enhanced the area around this office for pollinators. At Creag Meagaidh NNR, area around public picnic areas planted with various fruit trees and hedging. Continuation of pollinator trails at various NNRs (including Flanders Moss, Taynish, Creag Meagaidh and St Cyrus) to raise awareness of pollinator issues and offer suggestions for individuals and communities to help pollinators. |
| Levenhall Links habitat restoration and Musselburgh greenspace transformation (S) | East Lothian Council | Two ash lagoons on 7ha site related to Cockenzie Power Station converted to meadow using native seed, now managed by EL Council. In Musselburgh use of yellow-rattle and planting of pollinator-friendly bulbs, wildflowers and trees to enhance greenspaces. |
| Pollinator-friendly planting and sympathetic regime of grass-cutting across substantial areas of East Ayrshire Council estate (S) | East Ayrshire Council | Coalfield Communities Landscape Partnership planted 8.775ha of wildflowers. Hedgerow Habitats project planted 700m of mixed hedge plants, and 120 high-quality shrubs. Greener communities team have been rewilding, wildflower sowing and changing cutting regimes in different locations throughout East Ayrshire. In Darvel, Kilmaurs and Stewarton planting wildflower in previously amenity grassland areas. Sown with either 5g per m2 or 3g per m2 sowing over 5,000 grams of seed in the first year 2023. Continuation of wildflower seeding in areas of Dean Castle Country Park has reduced need for machine mowing and the addition of yellow-rattle and extra wildflower mix seeding around last year’s planted fruit and nut trees reduces competition from grasses. At the council’s Annanhill Golf Course, five wildflower areas rather than leaving Rough or Cutting. These meadows add colour, attract pollinators and further reduce the cutting regime. |
| Depot biodiversity improvement projects (L) | ScotRail | Station Adopters now contribute to nature friendly approaches around over 200 stations in Scotland, drawing on the support of over 1,000 volunteers. At two ScotRail depots in Glasgow, TCV work parties have installed bug hotel signage. Wildflower meadows continue to be maintained, re-seeded and scythed. |
| Aberdeen B-lines (M) | Aberdeen City Council & Buglife Scotland | This project will create and restore 20 hectares of habitats, following the course of the Rivers Dee and Don in Aberdeen. Stepping stones for pollinators will be provided by wildflower-rich habitats. 11 sites identified for first part of a project to enhance council-managed land for pollinators through both land management changes and habitat enhancement and restoration. ‘Meadow in a box’ project donated planters and seeds to ten local schools. |
| The John Muir Pollinator Way is an inspirational landscape-scale project with considerable pollinator corridor potential. This was Scotland’s first B-Line and created a connected habitat network along the route (L) | Buglife Green Action Trust | SG, NatureScot, CSGNT and Greggs Foundation funding meant target number of pollinator hotspots was exceeded. 32 sites, 8 hectares, along the 134-mile John Muir Way created and enhanced, working in partnership with Local Authorities. An audit has been carried out reviewing opportunities to extend the project remit beyond the immediate confines of the route. |
| Garnock Connections Landscape Partnership and ‘Garnock’s Buzzing’ project (M) | North Ayrshire Council RSPB Scottish Wildlife Trust Buglife SRUC | The completion of the Garnock Connections Landscape Partnership saw several pollinator-friendly outcomes achieved. As part of this project SRUC published a report on the importance of roadside verges as pollinator habitat. ‘Growing for Garnock’ planted 5,227 wildflower plug plants propagated from locally collected seed. They also planted 206 wildflower plug plants in woods lacking the natural biodiversity found in ancient woodlands. |
| Inner Forth Wetland Network. (Stirling, Falkirk and Fife) (S) | Inner Forth Futures | Capital work at four wetland sites was identified within the Inner Forth Habitat Network and is being maintained. Project completed in 2021. NatureScot’s Biodiversity Challenge Fund 20-21 funded work on the Inner Forth Wetland Network at four sites: Bluther Burn, Fife (Fife Council); Bothkennar Pools, Falkirk (Falkirk Council); Carron Dams, Falkirk (Scottish Wildlife Trust); Kildean, Stirling (Stirling Council). Outputs: 0.5ha new wildflower meadow, 1,050 trees planted, various measures for conservation grazing. |
| Pollinators along the Tweed (L) | Buglife Tweed Forum Scottish Borders Council | Working with partners in Scotland and north Northumberland, Pollinators Along the Tweed intends to create, enhance and restore 40 hectares of wildflower-rich habitat. Working across 50 sites in towns and villages along the Tweed, as well as the wider countryside, this project will help restore habitat connectivity for pollinating insects, helping them to better move across the landscape and adapt to a changing environment. |
| Pollinator Strategy for Clackmannanshire (L) | Clackmannanshire Council | A proposed Pollinator Strategy for the region is now out to consultation. |
| Glasgow City Council Pollinator Plan (M) | Glasgow City Council | Ensures that Scotland’s largest city has a positive approach to creating pollinator-friendly habitat. Hogganfield Park Local Nature Reserve and Queen’s Park are now designated Pollinator Parks. Pollinator Plan actions are included in Glasgow’s Biodiversity Annual Monitoring Report and will be included in future Biodiversity Duty Reports. Habitat management and creation of wildflower areas allied to information updates to raise awareness of pollinators and climate change. ‘Managed for Pollinators’ signage in use and making the link between biodiversity, pollinators and climate action. |
| Pollinator-friendly actions in Edinburgh (L) | Edinburgh City Council | Five new meadows created, bringing the number in the city to 49. These are native wildflower meadows and have used the Edinburgh Urban Pollinators seed mix. There are now 1.83ha of wildflower meadow across the city, 0.83 of this was created in 2023. 102,000 bulbs planted in 2023. Meadows earmarked for a number of city cemeteries and golf courses. Butterfly and bumblebee transect surveys carried out. Monitoring of pollinator priority species in Pentland Hills Regional Park. In Holyrood Park over 100 insect transects completed and several hundred native wildflower plugs planted. Eight wildflower meadows created along the river corridor of the Water of Leith. TCV supported cut-and-lift and scything work in several meadows. |
| Management of parks and greenspaces for environmental benefits (L) | Falkirk Council | Falkirk Council continue to extend their Sustainable Grass Management Project to sites across their area. In 2022 they created meadow areas in Callendar Park and Kinneil Estate. Work is afoot to extend a Spaces for Nature Action Plan to identify the next suite of sites to undergo habitat creation work (long grass / meadows / bulbs / woodland). It is intended that Interpretation will be provided at these sites to explain the changes. A seed drill has been bought using money provided through Greenspace Scotland and the levelling-up fund. Piloting the use of red clover on path edges and verges to reduce maintenance and provide pollinator forage. |
| Pollinator-focused amenity grassland management (M) | Argyll and Bute Council | The Council’s cutting regime remains sympathetic to pollinator needs. Working with Islay Wildlife Trust continues to enable the Council to extend the reach of preferred roadside verge management practices. The council also continues to contribute to the Buglife B-Lines project in the Argyll area. Six towns (Oban, Dunoon, Lochgilphead, Campbeltown, Helensburgh and Rothesay) have included both perennial and annual planting as part of contributing to the green network. |
| On the Verge (L) | On the Verge community group | A project which works with local schools and community groups to manage pollinator-friendly sites in the Stirling and Clackmannanshire areas. Work continues with community groups to either sow new areas of native wildflowers, or better manage existing grassland, to encourage wildflowers by using cut and collect method, and planting of yellow-rattle. Members of the group also collect wildflower seed locally to sow into new areas. These spaces are typically in school grounds, parkland, or pockets of abandoned land. The group is also involved in the Beds for Bees project. |
| Pollinator-friendly actions in Western Isles Local Authority area. (M) | Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | Supporting Community Land Outer Hebrides with an Invasives Species Control project on community owned land across the islands (about ¾ of the land mass is in community ownership). This activity will suppress invasive plants which it is hoped will aid biodiversity by allowing native plants to re-colonise, helping pollinators. Working with RSPB on an education programme that will support Corncrake Conservation, practices conducive to corncrake conservation will also benefit pollinators. |
| Beds for Bees (M) | RePollinate | Scheme offering practical and financial support for community groups aiming to make their local greenspace as pollinator-friendly as possible. |
| Increasing promotion of management and creation of pollinator-friendly road verges nationwide (L) | Plantlife | Managing Grassland Road Verges publication is now an important resource and further enhances the argument that roadside verges managed for wildlife are a pollinator advantage. |
| Stirling Council Pollinator Plan (L) | Stirling Council | The Council is committed to reducing the area of intensively-managed grass and following a reduced management regime. Sites such as that at Kings Park in the town carry awareness-raising signage to engage the public with the work. |
| Aberdeenshire Pollinator Action Plan (L) | Aberdeenshire Council | Aberdeenshire Council’s new Pollinator Action Plan covers 2022 to 2027. This and previous plans recognise the need for urgent action to protect and enhance pollinator populations. This Action Plan is a cross-service document that identifies key areas of Council work up to March 2027 in alignment with Scotland’s Pollinator Strategy for Scotland. A key aim is to have 10% of public greenspace managed for pollinators and biodiversity. |
| Meadow creation at a new development site –– Thurso South substation, managed by Scottish and Southern Energy Networks (SSEN) (L) | Bumblebee Conservation Trust Consultants WSP SSEN | Following the sowing of a tailored pollinator wildflower seed mix on 10ha around substation site near Thurso, in 2020 a great yellow bumblebee was recorded for the first time on the site. Further sightings were recorded in 2021 by BBCT staff. Follow-up management in 2022 successfully knocked back areas of coarse grass that had started to encroach. Further monitoring surveys are planned for 2024 and 2027 and SSEN plan to take forward a case study on the site. |
| Pollinator-friendly practices in Inverclyde district (L) | Inverclyde Council | 2023 saw the introduction of wildflowers into bedding schemes to encourage biodiversity and contribute to pollinator corridors. Wildflower meadow also sown. |
| Meadow management improvements in Midlothian (L) | Midlothian Council | Volunteers (mostly from Lloyds Bank and Scottish Widows) scything and raking meadows at Vogrie and Roslin. Springfield Mill meadow was cut and lifted by machine. Straiton Pond LNR entrance enhanced for pollinators and meadow scything workshop held at Gorebridge Community Garden. |
| Series of wildflower areas created with pollinator provision in North Lanarkshire (M) | North Lanarkshire Council | Areas planted in Strathclyde Country Park, Drumpellier Country Park, and Palacerigg Country Park. New project to include wildflower meadows in further eight town parks. Signage explains the biodiversity benefits. |
| Wildflower meadow creation and management in South Lanarkshire (M) | South Lanarkshire Council | There is a drive to reduce intensively managed grassland, this has seen 155 grassland areas improved for pollinators and wildlife in general – covering 62ha. A ‘Making Space for Pollinators’ report has been compiled and work will continue with Clyde Valley Green Network to identify areas of species-rich grassland and opportunities. |
| Pollinator-friendly planting in the grounds of St Machar Cathedral Church, Aberdeen (S) | St Machar Cathedral | Project to integrate pollinator-friendly planting into the Cathedral grounds. An example of how grounds around religious buildings could be harnessed to help nature. |
| Pollinator-friendly planting and sympathetic regime of grass cutting across substantial areas of council grounds. (S) | East Dunbartonshire Council | Further expansion of perennial meadow management – over 12 hectares across the district. Introduction of yellow-rattle across a number of sites and large-scale bulb planting – in excess of 250,000 planted in Autumn 2023 |
| Fife Golf Course Project : Seven courses for nature (M) | Fife Golf Trust | Nature Restoration Funding for this project will enable seven municipal golf courses amounting to 544 hectares to enhance, create and connect habitats including species-rich grasslands and native mixed hedgerows. |
| Fife Council ground’s maintenance changes (L) | Fife Council | Conversion of 100 hectares of amenity and frequently cut grasslands under new regime to develop grassland meadows. Sites at Dunnikier and Ravenscraig Parks (Kirkcaldy) are examples. |
| Creation of pollinator-friendly habitat around Holyrood Park, and Scotland’s Abbey network (L) | Historic Environment Scotland | At Holyrood Park, Dryburgh, Iona and Melrose Abbeys pollinator-friendly planting and mowing regimes have been introduced. |
| Nature Network creation (L) | East Lothian Council | Actively working to reduce areas of intensively-managed grassland in urban greenspaces. Public consultation identified 87% of respondents wanted more pollinator-friendly planting in parks. Creation of six new wildflower perennial meadows followed. |
| Flagship Parks for Pollinators (M) | Aberdeen City Council Buglife Scotland | Aberdeen City Council, with funding from Greenspace Scotland, is extending naturalised greenspace management by improving and creating blue/green habitats in two high-profile parks in the city — Seaton and Duthie Parks. The Council is using a ‘Nature Restoration in Parks’ grant from the Scottish Government to survey, plan and design work to further improve the parks for nature. As wetlands and ponds provide a valuable habitat for a range of species, these are being included, in addition to creating/improving wildflower meadow areas for pollinators and tree-planting. |
| Management and enhancement of grassland areas across Dundee (L) | Dundee City Council | Nature Restoration Funding supported 28,000 native trees being planted over 12 hectares at three sites in Dundee. These were pollinator-friendly species such as wild cherry, crab apple, hawthorn and blackthorn. 10,902m2 of annual wildflower areas were sown and managed in 2022 and a similar area again in 2023. This means Dundee currently has 49.5 ha of naturalised grasslands and 10 ha of biodiversity grassland. Nature Restoration funding allowed the purchase of new machinery to assist in the cut-and-lift management of these areas. |
| Pollinator-friendly verge management (L) | Orkney Council | Increased the number of conservation road verges, which are now cut less frequently, allowing wildflowers and other plants to bloom and set seed. |
| Enhancement of target road verges in Caithness for benefit of great yellow bumblebee populations (M) | BBCT
| Great Yellow bumblebee: On the Verge’ project ommenced a development phase in 2023. The development year of the project aims to create a management plan for the Highland Council, using research on best practice management as well as up-to-date survey data. BBCT will write an optimal plan which will boost the populations of the Great Yellow bumblebee and other key pollinating insects, balancing the need for road safety considerations. |
| Managing public greenspaces for biodiversity (L) | Shetland Council | Revised roadside verge-cutting policy means verges only being cut for safety reasons in visibility splays, at junctions, and where pedestrians require access to the verge so that they can step off the road to avoid approaching traffic. Replacement of some conventional street lighting lanterns with ‘down-lighter’ LED equivalents; dimmed after midnight, both measures aimed at reducing light pollution and aiding night-flying pollinators. Larger areas of grass, previously cut during summer months are now left to grow naturally, thus enhancing biodiversity. On Lerwick’s Jubilee Flower Park no use of chemicals to eradicate weeds, these are manually removed by hand. Walls and fences are used for growing a wide variety of climbing plants, which will provide shelter and a food source for invertebrates. |
| GREENgrass multi-species grazing experiment : 2022-2025 (S) | JHI | Exploring the use of a new technological development combined with direct drilling to enhance sward diversity with minimal soil disturbance. In combination with mob-stocking rotational grazing practices, this will improve species functional diversity, soil health, pollinator resources, livestock health, and productivity. Autumn and spring sown treatments were applied in October 2022 and April 2023. Vegetation and pollinator surveys were carried out in summer 2023 and will be continued in 2024. |
| Encouraging Green Infrastructure Fund grantees to maximise the benefits to pollinators within the design and management of their projects (M) | NatureScot (funded by ERDF) | Completed projects at Melfort Park (Clydebank), Fernbrae Meadows (South Lanarkshire), Middlefield Park (Aberdeen) and Cuningar Loop (Glasgow) have prominent pollinator-friendly elements. |
| Road and rail verges and embankments provide a vital resource that support plant and animal communities (L) | Transport Scotland | M80 Stepps to Haggs scheme featured extensive areas of species-rich grass mixes as well as naturalistic Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) with diverse wildflowers and emergent species. Haggs improvements. A trial reduction of the number of cuts was introduced along stretches at Spean Bridge and in Glen Coe on the A82. |
Objective 2: Understanding pollinators and their pollination services
What we need to do:
- Improve our knowledge of plant–pollinator interactions, including the relationship between wild pollinators and habitat size, quality, type and connectedness to other areas of habitat, and
- Better understand, through spatial mapping, the resources available to pollinators on a landscape scale.
| Project | Organisation | Update |
|---|---|---|
| Encouraging Scottish growers to complete an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan and encouraging local authorities to apply the principles of IPM to ground maintenance and management. Supporting and promoting IPM, and targeted use of pesticides, in agricultural and urban areas. Supporting and complying with approved advice supplied for the GB governance structure (M) | SG SQC | The refreshed agricultural IPM assessment plan for use by Scottish businesses improves on the previous version by allowing the industry’s progress in adopting IPM to be measured. The plan uses a metric for measuring IPM adoption, derived with stakeholder input that assigns weightings to the different pest management options and scores farms on a 0-100 scale for IPM adoption. Reviewing plans across multiple years will allow the increasing uptake of IPM by the sector to be demonstrated to the industry’s customers and to Government and its agencies. The IPM Plan is hosted on the Plant Health Centre website The Scottish Government continues to support the restriction on three neonicotinoids (Clothianidin, Imidacloprid and Thiamethoxam) in response to the evidence of their effect on the environment, particularly on bees. These restrictions go beyond the partial ban that has been in place since 2013 and, from December 2018 use is limited to permanent greenhouses where exposure to bees and other pollinators is not expected. Scottish Quality Crops (SQC) have introduced a requirement for growers to complete an IPM plan to meet the SQC assurance scheme standards. The UK National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides (NAP) is due for publication in the next few months. Prepared in cooperation by all four UK Governments it will outline how they will take action to minimise the risks and impacts of pesticides to human health and the environment, while ensuring pests and pesticide resistance can be managed effectively. Supporting greater uptake of IPM across all sectors as well as the development and introduction of alternative approaches or techniques, to reduce reliance on the use of conventional chemical pesticides will be central to the actions set out in the NAP. |
| Helping Hands for Butterflies (S) | Butterfly Conservation | Over 240 people received training in butterfly identification and recording between March and July 2022. 35 volunteers took on butterfly monitoring transects, contributing thousands of records through regular monitoring to help improve the statistics for how butterfly populations are faring in Scotland. The Helping Hands for Butterflies project concluded in September 2022. The full project report can be found on the Butterfly Conservation Scotland page. |
| Gather and analyse data to better understand pollinator population trends, habitat availability and connectivity to ensure that the correct actions are being taken for pollinators and habitats (M) | BBCT | With research partners the Earlham Institute, the BBCT collected samples of genetic material from great yellow bumblebees (using non-lethal methods) across a number of sites in Sutherland, Caithness and Orkney. The aim is to monitor genetic relatedness in the northern populations of GYB and whether inbreeding could be a factor in population decline. The Earlham Institute have extracted the DNA from the samples successfully and analysis is proceeding. However, since the pandemic, the Institute has recently changed their priorities and the analysis is moving more slowly than anticipated. |
| Identifying optimum plants and habitat area size for wild pollinators in different management situations (M) | SRUC | Research projects exploring optimum farm management and landscape-scale measures to protect and promote pollinators. Pollinator-friendly management actions are being evaluated at AHDB Prestonhall Monitor Farm and Soil Association Pollinator Demonstration Farm. This work has helped shape NatureScot’s field margin scorecard and is being written up for publication. Monitoring will continue at Prestonhall Farm via a PhD studentship. A PhD studentship exploring the impact of varietal differences of oilseed rape on insect pollination is completed. Findings published open access in Agronomy and Basic and Applied Ecology. SRUC contributed to a collaborative project to develop practical methods for assessing insect pollination services provided by a site of conservation interest. This research, led by the University of Leeds is published and included in the Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site-based Assessment (TESSA). SRUC participated in an expert elicitation process led by Leiden University. This process created quantitative values enabling pollinators to be included in Life Cycle Assessments. The work was undertaken under RESAS-funded project Modelling the current and future GHG emissions and wider impacts in the Scottish beef, sheep and dairy sectors (SRUC-C5-1) and is now published in Environmental Science and Technology. SRUC is monitoring the foraging value of different upland habitats under RESAS-funded project Seeking multiple benefits from natural carbon stores in the uplands (SRUC-D4-1). SRUC has worked with NatureScot in this project to test upland scorecards developed under Piloting an Outcome Based Approach in Scotland (POBAS). |
| SRUC University of Edinburgh | NERC DTP-funded PhD studentship using remote sensing to monitor floral habitats for pollinators is now in its final year. This studentship explores the potential for imaging to help detect the quality of field margins (i.e. via UAV footage) and species-rich grasslands (i.e. via static photography). A blog has been written for this project. | |
SRUC University of Edinburgh JHI | NERC DTP-funded PhD studentship Assessing Scotland’s Pollinator Strategy: The studentship explores the impact of Agri-environmental interventions on pollinators, and testing the applicability of NatureScot’s field margin and hedgerow scorecards developed under POBAS. | |
| FAS Scotland and SRUC are committed to promoting IPM plans and delivering knowledge exchange activities on IPM and beneficial insects to key stakeholders (L) | SFAS SRUC AHDB | IPM Assessment Plans for arable crops, grassland, and horticulture crops are available on the Plant Health Centre website. Promoted through PHC, SRUC and FAS activities inc. FAS Crop Trials Events and Webinars, FAS/AHDB winter agronomy roadshows (three locations each year), Arable Scotland, Plant Health Centre conferences. Scottish IPM Assessment Plan | Plant Health Centre Integrated Pest Management's top tips from high scoring farms | The Scottish Farmer Reduced Tillage & the Impact on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service Information video on IPM is available online via the Farm Advisory Service’s Crop and Soils and Environmental Portals. New FAS publications focusing on Making Pesticide Use Sustainable are in development. New content developed for FAS environmental portal highlighting the value different habitats play in promoting beneficial insects, with signposting to other resources. A series of on farm workshops were held in summer of 2023 aimed at helping farmers recognise the value of farmland habitats. Events were held in Ayrshire, Midlothian and Inverary. A podcast on Bees, Butterflies and Biodiversity as part of the Natural Capital Podcast Series. A presentation on agroecology that highlighted the benefits of natural enemies and insect pollinators was included in the AHDB Agronomy roadshow delivered in Melrose, Perth and Aberdeenshire (January 2023). |
| PollMap (L) | NatureScot | NatureScot has developed a spatial mapping resource to better understand the habitat resources available to pollinators on a landscape scale. This will be available in Spring 2024 on the NatureScot website, as a web-mapping application available via a dashboard format. The mapping will help with understanding what habitats are where, and their suitability as resources for pollinators. It will also help identify areas where positive changes could be made to enhance the resource for pollinators. A story map version will also be provided which will explain more about pollinators and what they need in terms of habitat for their whole life cycles (including signposting to relevant resources), explain the rationale behind the mapping and caveats relating to data resolution. |
Objective 3: Manage commercial use of pollinators to benefit native pollinators
What we need to do:
- Ensure the process of screening commercial honey bees, and imported/managed bumblebees, for pests and diseases continues to safeguard our wild pollinators,
- Review biosecurity measures for imported bees, particularly bumblebees, aiming to support healthy populations of pollinators in the wild,
- Ensure that practical advice is available to reduce the potential for pest and pathogen transfer, and disease impacts on wild pollinators,
- Reduce the reliance on imported bees for commercial pollination, and
- Encourage and support ways to increase the use of naturally occurring pollinators.
| Project | Organisation | Update |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting and sustaining a healthy honey bee population and beekeeping industry in Scotland through continuing to implement the measures set in the Honey Bee Health Strategy for Scotland (HBHS) (S) | SG SASA SRUC Bee Farmers’ Association SBA | SG in collaboration with the Bee health Improvement Partnership (BHIP) published the new Scottish Honey Bee Health Strategy 2022-2032 in 2022. The main aim of the strategy is ‘Working in partnership to achieve a healthy and sustainable population of honey bees in Scotland’ and the BHIP meet regularly to agree priorities and monitor progress. The Implementation Plan is a working document detailing the actions required to deliver the aims of this strategy and updates are regularly published. |
| Publishing an informative position statement on the interplay between wild bumblebees and managed honeybees (M) | BBCT | Bumblebee Conservation Trust have published a position statement on the interactions between managed honey bee colonies and wild bumblebees with recommendations for minimising conflict. |
Imported bees: Identifying actions required to minimise the risks of managed bees (imported and locally produced) to native pollinator species Reviewing the pathways by which commercially-produced pollinators enter Scotland to determine scale and biosecurity risks Developing a suite of tests and a standardised process to assess bumblebee health; ensure best practice guidance is available for pollinator box users (L) | Scottish Bee Inspectorate |
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| Skills for Bees. Rare bumblebee surveys and training the public in bumblebee identification and survey & monitoring techniques in the Cairngorms National Park (M) | BBCT | Skills for Bees: Scotland started fieldwork in 2022 and aims to train the public (including NGO staff, ranger teams, and landowners) in bumblebee ID and monitoring within the Cairngorms National Park. Alongside this aim, and using these new surveyors, the project carries out bumblebee surveys with a particular focus on rare and scarce species. The goal of the project is to enhance the understanding of the current status of bumblebees within the Park, while establishing a legacy of bumblebee recorders and long-term monitoring. |
Objective 4: Raise awareness and encourage action
What we need to do:
- Ensure that the value and vulnerability of plants and their pollinators is widely recognised,
- Increase awareness within key sectors and among the public of opportunities to help pollinators and their habitats,
- Support and raise awareness of schemes and organisations that encourage people to identify and record pollinating species,
- Support initiatives by local and national environmental groups that increase the diversification and connectivity of flower-rich and other pollinator habitats in the countryside and urban areas,
- Encourage and support land managers to restore or create native flower-rich habitats to enhance pollinator abundance and diversity. Work together to carry out management at a landscape scale, including urban green space and urban fringe areas.
| Project | Organisation | Update |
|---|---|---|
| NHS Scotland greenspace management (L) | NHS Scotland | Across 14 territorial health boards, the NHS can clearly be an important nationwide partner in helping to deliver good outcomes for nature. NHS greenspaces are highly valued and serve a number of complimentary purposes, from providing therapeutic and food growing spaces, through to offering space for nature and providing an attractive aesthetic backdrop for visitors and local communities. |
| The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh helps provide suitable habitat for pollinators in the city through targeted planting, whilst highlighting the presence and role of pollinators to visitors (L) | RBGE | On-site pollinator-friendly and visitor-engaging plantings include:
Our long-running volunteer phenology-recording project documents annual changes in flowering time across the RBGE estate, highlighting pollinator-impacting shifts due to climate change. A new Nature-Based Solutions team is expanding work with urban greening for biodiversity and climate resilience, including pollinator-friendly green roofs and plantings. Took part in Fringe Festival event – ‘1,000 Miniature Meadows’ providing an immersive experience to participants via soundscapes from pollinator-rich meadows. |
| Engaging with the public in raising awareness of pollinators and pollinator-friendly planting (M) | Bonnie Dundee community group | Establishing patches of pollinator-friendly habitat in Dundee and raising public awareness of the purpose and benefits of these patches. Used 250 NatureScot wildflower seed packs in spring to encourage more action. |
| Downloadable guides on the Garden for Life Forum offering tips and encouragement for wildlife-friendly gardening (S) | Keep Scotland Beautiful / Garden for Life Forum | Included in the suite is a publication covering ‘Bedding plants for pollinators‘ Advice is geared to supporting sustainable gardening in a way which benefits biodiversity. |
| Providing regular updates, news and features on pollinator-related activity through the Scotland’s Pollinator blog and the associated Twitter feed (S) | NatureScot | Publishing blogs, social media posts, children’s resources, and website updates. Sharing and cross-promoting pollinator-related materials. Investigating options to ‘place’ pollinator stories in the press. We have 2,020 Twitter (‘X’) followers. (1,788 and 1,450 respectively in the previous two years). Our blogs increased from 4,500 views in 2019, 8,700 views in 2020, 15,358 views in 2022 to 20,877 in 2023. |
| Native wildflower seeds for gardens and communities (S) | NatureScot | We provide on request native wildflower seeds, both small packets for containers and window boxes and larger ‘community packets’ for schools and community groups. |
| Continuing to develop guidance, tailored to a range of audiences (farmers, councils, schools, gardeners), on practical action to help pollinators. This increases awareness of the value of assisting and recording pollinator species (S) | BBCT Buglife Butterfly Conservation | A wide range of guidance continues to be published on these organisations’ websites. For example, BBCT and RSPB have jointly published a factsheet on managing golf courses for bumblebees. This can be downloaded, and hard copies are available on request. Butterfly Conservation have created a new guide to making and maintaining habitats for butterflies and moths in Scotland, with particular focus on urban areas. A set of Gaelic language educational resources on Great Yellow bumblebees is scheduled in the Outer Hebrides through the Species on the Edge programme. |
| Working with partners, including policymakers and those with practical skills in the management of habitats, to raise public awareness and understanding of the needs and status of pollinator populations. Video guidance and information for farmers. (S) | SFAS SRUC Soil Association | Three SFAS practical guides available online via the Farm Advisory Service’s Environmental Portal:
Podcast highlighting the role that Moths play in our ecosystem in conjunction with Butterfly Conservation. Targeted information for Land Management for the Great Yellow Bumblebee is now available through the FAS environmental portal. SRUC and SFAS have provided on-farm events targeted to enhancing the environmental sustainability of grassland farms. Written outputs included a practical guide on Encouraging Pollinators without costing production . An online toolkit has been developed to help farmers select site-specific mixtures for establishment of multi-species swards. SFAS works with The Net Zero Arran group, originally focused on climate change benchmarking, and exploring the island for nature conservation opportunities, supported by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. This farmer-led focus group are implementing land management practices targeted to pollinators. |
| Bee the change (L) | BBCT | Bee the Change is a BBCT website set up to provide quick, simple ways that the public can help bumblebees. It includes numerous free how-to guides and resources, mostly around gardening in a bumblebee-friendly manner. This includes planting for certain months, helping hibernating bumblebees, letting your lawn grow and much more. Recent publication of a new garden’ resource, provides simple advice to home gardeners on how to remove pesticides from the garden and why. |
| Agri-Environment Climate Scheme, under the SRDP (L) | NatureScot | Agri-environment funding for pollinators is being accessed via this scheme. 80% of crops grown in Scotland rely on insect pollination. Acting as a partner in delivering the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS), there are currently 2,835 contracts in place for agri-environment measures under the Scheme, with a total value of £148 million. Included are many actions, particularly for the arable and organic sectors, specifically targeted to pollinator needs as well as for the management of semi-natural grasslands. The scheme has been running annual application rounds since 2015, with more restricted rounds in some years. Another round of the scheme will be held in 2024. |
| Green Connectors Project (M) | Glasgow City Council | Green Connectors five-year project is creating integrated habitat linkages throughout the city for pollinators and other wildlife by wildflower, hedge and tree planting in appropriate sites. Phase 1 was funded by the NatureScot Biodiversity Challenge Fund and Glasgow CC now has a commitment of £1.5 million from GCC budget over five years to implement this across the rest of the city which demonstrates the Council’s commitment to support pollinators. 13 meadow sites across city managed. The project is a collaboration between Glasgow City Council, Parks Development Team and RSPB Scotland. |
| NatureScot is working with Scottish Government to develop a new agriculture policy post 2024 (M) | NatureScot | Focus on maintaining stability of current farming support scheme architecture, taking forward pilots to inform future rural support, and advising on the development of future agriculture and rural support to help address the climate change emergency (see 2019 IPCC report) and biodiversity crisis (see 2019 IPBES report). A new Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill (Scotland) will be going through Scottish Parliament over 2024 that will provide the framework and the powers for developing future support systems including nature restoration. As part of its Farming with Nature programme NatureScot has been trialling different approaches, such as piloting an outcome-based approach and developing a biodiversity audit. NatureScot is now working with the Scottish Government to develop a simple Biodiversity Audit to be used by farmers and crofters to allow them to manage their land to promote biodiversity. |
| Bumblebee identification walks (S) | Species on the Edge (RSPB) | This event in Shetland is a good example of opportunities being taken by the range of Species on the Edge projects to raise the profile of the three pollinators on the SotE list. In this instance Moss Carder bumblebee was in the spotlight. |
| Illustrating what public good looks like on Scottish Farms (pollinators are listed as a public good) to demonstrate the public benefits generated by farm support schemes and nature-friendly practices (L) | NatureScot |
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| Ongoing awareness- raising of the invasive non-native Asian hornet through the Asian hornet contingency plan and associated guidance on BeeBase (M) | SG SASA SBA | Continued awareness-raising activities through public engagement activities and sentinel beekeepers. Asian Hornet Week activities through public media and monitoring by beekeepers at apiaries. Updates are regularly forwarded to relevant audiences. |
| Montrose Space for Nature project. Changing grass-cutting regime and herbicide application on open sites in Montrose. (M) | Angus Council Scotia Seeds | A 2km stretch of cycle path now down from 16 to 2 cuts per year and yellow rattle seeding has taken place, with the aim of reducing nutrients to allow wildflowers (and thus pollinators) to thrive. Sites in Montrose and Arbroath managed for pollinators and this approach will be rolled out in more Angus burghs. |
| Strathmore ‘Pollinators & People’ B-Lines Project (M) | Buglife Scotland Angus Council Perth & Kinross Council Tayside Biodiversity Partnership River South Esk Catchment Partnership | Developing a multifaceted B-lines project from Montrose to Dunkeld. Habitat creation, community engagement and overall improved connectivity are central to the project which runs the length of Strathmore. Community engagement has begun as have changes to grass-cutting regimes, and supplementary seed and bulb enhancement. Angus Council purchased cut and lift machinery using a Nature Restoration Fund allocation for use across Angus settlements. |
| Management of public greenspace for pollinators (L) | North Ayrshire Council
SWT
Ayrshire Community Trust | Ongoing project to identify opportunities to enhance or improve biodiversity through assessing grassed areas that can adopt relaxed mowing, and to identify suitable areas for wildflower areas to be created. Streetscene provided communities with opportunity to voice their opinions and shape grounds maintenance priorities. Feedback was received on topics such as: grass-cutting, flower beds and planters, alternative planting, weeding and wildflowers. As a result wildflower meadows introduced at Irvine Beach Park, Stevenston Beach Park and Ardeer Quarry area. A school planting day at Lochshore Park was successful and flower and shrub beds enhanced in partnership with the Ayrshire Community Trust and volunteers. |
| Clyde Grasslands (L) | Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network | Clyde Grassland initiative is reversing the decline of grasslands and meadows across Glasgow City Region. Project brought together Plantlife Scotland, Butterfly and Bumblebee Conservation and was funded via Nature Restoration Fund. |
| Kinross raingardens (M) | Kinross Civic Trust Tayside Biodiversity Partnership Perth & Kinross Council
| The first phase of the Kinross Park & Ride Raingarden project was given the prestigious Susdrain UK Community Award in 2022. This was a trial of perennial and annual native wildflower plantings as part of a new raingarden in the middle of the Park & Ride car park. Further enhancement of the area around the Park & Ride and creation of a green corridor linking the area with Loch Leven now well-advanced. |
| Living Lawn and wildflower programme (M) | Moray Council | 26 sites identified in consultation with communities, now planted with wildflowers or have adjusted mowing regimes to support pollinators. Maintenance and monitoring is ongoing and signage has been used to engage public support for these improvements. Application of glyphosate is also being minimised. |
| Species on the Edge – project includes habitat creation, surveying, land manager engagement, public engagement and monitoring (L) | BBCT
Buglife
Butterfly Conservation
NatureScot
| Species on the Edge is a new ground-breaking partnership comprising NatureScot and seven nature conservation charities, the programme of work is dedicated to improving the fortunes of 37 priority species found along Scotland's coast and islands. It is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and runs from January 2023 – December 2026. Several species projects within the overall programme feature pollinators:
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| Grand challenges in entomology: Priorities for action in the coming decades (L) | SRUC | Participated in a workshop to identify challenges in entomology with key gaps in knowledge with respect to plant pollinator networks identified. This workshop has now been published in Insect Conservation and Diversity. |
| Universities Innovation Fund — Edges and Hedges (S) | SRUC/SAC Consulting | A new one-year project aiming to explore the benefits of field edges and hedges for multiple benefits including insect pollinators. Project will involve a range of activities promoting these vital habitats on farmland. |
| Perth and Stirling Wild Spaces Project (S) | Butterfly Conservation | Butterfly Conservation Wild Spaces portal launched which gives individuals ideas on how they can help create space for butterflies and moths within their gardens. Wild Spaces emphasises that everyone can do something to help pollinators and gives ideas and guidance for any sized garden or space. BC aims to create thousands of Wild Spaces by 2026, the portals homepage has a counter to show current numbers of Wild Spaces created. Wild Spaces leaflet has also been produced which gives guidance and ideas. The project engages individuals and communities through moth mornings, meadow discovery sessions, identification workshops, gardening for pollinators workshops, wild Space creation workshops and practical Wild Space creation. 10 sites have been created so far across council land, schools, and community gardens. |
| Improve access points to canal network around Falkirk (S) | Scottish Canals
Safer Communities Action Group | Access routes being improved by Scottish Canals Sustainability Environmental Team to improve pollinator provision and aesthetic quality of sites. Work carried out in conjunction with local primary schools and volunteers. |
Objective 5: Evidence - monitor and evaluate whether Scotland's pollinators are thriving
What we need to do:
- Gather and analyse data to better understand pollinator population trends, habitat availability and connectivity to ensure that the correct actions are being taken for pollinators and habitats,
- Support monitoring and recording schemes for key species, notably bees, hoverflies, moths, butterflies and wild plants, and
- Encourage citizen science and other volunteer projects that add value to existing monitoring initiatives to help deliver the National Pollinator Monitoring Scheme.
| Project | Organisation | Update |
|---|---|---|
| Regular LBAP monitoring reports and obligatory Biodiversity Duty reports. These increasingly highlight specific pollinator-friendly actions (L) | Local authorities | January 2024 marks the point when the latest Biodiversity Duty Reports are due for submission, many of these will be from Local Authorities. These regular and detailed reports will be of considerable help in building a clearer picture of the state of our pollinators. |
| The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh supports monitoring of pollinator communities across Scotland and Europe (M) | RBGE | RBGE co-lead Biodiversity Genomics Europe, a Horizon-2020 programme accelerating the use of DNA to understand and monitor nature, with pollinators a key focal area group. This includes pan-European DNA-barcoding of bees, butterflies, moths and hoverflies at 450 sites, including high mountain habitats in Scotland, to create a barcode reference library supporting ongoing monitoring efforts and rapid eDNA assessment of pollinator community health. Within this, RBGE are using metabarcoding to compare pollinator communities between urban gardens and agricultural fields across Europe. In 2023, malaise traps ran for five weeks in their Edinburgh and Logan gardens, each paired with a trap in local agricultural field. This case study will expand to more sites in 2024. Edinburgh and Benmore gardens are among ~100 sites across UK where monthly malaise-trap collections are made to support DNA-based characterisation of insect diversity through space and time. So far RBGE has processed >1,000 individual insects as part of this project. Edinburgh University student Alixandra Prybyla monitors bumblebees in RBGE using bioacoustic techniques. |
| BeeWalk is a standardised citizen science monitoring scheme that collects bumblebee data from across the UK to gain an accurate understanding of current bumblebee populations and distributions (L) | BBCT | BeeWalk has been running since 2008 and opened to the public from 2011. Volunteer BeeWalkers survey a fixed-route transect once a month between March and October (inclusive), recording the abundance of each bumblebee species seen. This data is submitted via the BeeWalk website (hosted by the Biological Records Centre), enabling population trend analysis to be undertaken. The outputs of BeeWalk are now widely used to inform policy and conservation interventions. The 2023 BeeWalk Annual Report covers UK bumblebee population and phenology changes in the 2022 season, which was the warmest on record. It also looks at long-term trends, and abundance trends for each bumblebee species where there is sufficient data to make this analysis. |
| Using objectives outlined in Scotland’s Pollinator Strategy Implementation Plan to monitor achievements and direct future efforts. Reporting on progress in Annual Report (L) | NatureScot | The Implementation Plan was amended in 2021 to reflect progress and areas identified as needing further work. This Annual Progress Report ensures current information and completed projects are highlighted to help to inform future actions. Annual Conference highlights pertinent issues each year and encourages sharing good practice. |
| Pollinator Demonstration Farm Lochend of Barra in Aberdeenshire provided a platform to explore and demonstrate means of enhancing pollinator provision in intensive arable farming systems (L) | Soil Association SRUC | Work now completed. Three-year demonstration project assessed plant mix and habitat size implications for pollinators. |
| Supporting the National Pollinator Monitoring Scheme in Scotland (L) | UKCEH NatureScot SG | PoMS aims to understand how insect populations are changing across the UK. This is done through two large-scale surveys: FIT counts, and 1km square surveys, using a combination of volunteer citizen science and professional surveyors and taxonomists. Annual reports are produced each year and can be found on the UK PoMS website. PoMS produces a quarterly e-newsletter, sign up here to receive or read previous updates. SG funds support this work and NatureScot are members of the steering group.
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| Large-scale farm experiments and monitoring systems testing methods for sustainable intensification of arable and grassland farming that are carbon-neutral and have a positive effect on nature (L) | UKCEH Rothamsted Research PML BGS NCEO | The ASSIST programme ran experimental sites across England testing impacts of a) flower margins and in-field strips on pollinators, pollination and natural pest control in arable crops and; b) sustainable grazing and pasture enhancement on grassland farms. The results will be shared across the UK in due course. The follow-on programme AgZero+ is also producing novel tools for farm and landscape-planning, and measuring impacts of innovative practices on greenhouse gas emissions, carbon stocks, soil health and biodiversity. Both programmes are funded by UKRI. |
| UKBMS Butterfly transect in Eglinton Country Park (S) | North Ayrshire Council | Ongoing monitoring of the transect within Eglinton Country Park. |
| Assessing approaches to Monitoring pollinators at the landscape scale (S) | SWT SAC Consulting | SWT and SAC Consulting collaborated to review methodologies to monitor pollinators at the landscape scale. A combination of citizen science and expert monitoring was identified as the optimum approach, and methodology was tested during summer 2023. |
| Glasgow City Region: Species Rich Grassland Opportunity Mapping (S) | GCVGN Plantlife Scotland Bumblebee Conservation Trust Butterfly Conservation SAC Consulting | GCVGN, Plantlife Scotland, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Butterfly Conservation and SAC Consulting developed an innovative method of combining spatial data and species records to map species-rich grasslands and identify opportunity areas for grassland creation within the Glasgow City Region area. The report, alongside resultant networks and opportunity areas, is now published and written up as a blog. |
| Delivering for rare species: Northern colletes mining bee (Colletes floralis) | Species on the Edge BBCT Buglife Scotland | The current focus of work is to gain a more accurate picture of the current distribution of this dune machair specialist species in the Inner and Outer Hebrides. Following verification of updated records, land manager engagement and advisory work will follow to raise awareness of the species’ needs, which is particularly susceptible to coastal erosion. |
Pollinator Research Projects
The findings of the following research studies will be of interest in relation to the Pollinator Strategy for Scotland and further afield. We welcome updates from the projects to include in this and future Annual Progress Reports.
The aims of the research included in this listing broadly fall into the following five main areas:
- Pollinators’ habitats, biology and ecology;
- Taxonomy;
- Pesticides;
- Climate change;
- Pests and diseases
If you are involved in a research project which supports the aims of the Pollinator Strategy for Scotland please get in touch.
Pollinators’ habitats, biology and ecology
Maggie C. Gill & Keith F. A. Walters (2022): Potential use of floral nectar sugar characteristics in plant selection for pollinator habitats, Journal of Apicultural Research.
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor pollinator assemblages. This multidisciplinary project explores the use of high-resolution images captured by drones to predict pollinator assemblages on the ground. (Edinburgh University, SRUC) NERC-funded PhD project, 2020-2024.
Assessing Scotland's Pollinator Strategy: A 'real-world' approach. This project is exploring how agri-environmental interventions impact on insect pollinators, at the local and landscape scale. Taking a real word approach, the project will explore potential barriers to implementation. (Edinburgh University of Edinburgh, SRUC, James Hutton Institute) NERC- E4 DTP funded PhD project, 2021-2025.
Long-term potential and cost-effectiveness of grassland and sward diversification to improve foraging resources for pollinators. (James Hutton Institute) 2018-2021.
The Bees’ needs. Using molecular analysis of bee-collected pollen to understand which plants play an important role in honey bee forage. Honey bees are abundant generalist foragers, and uniquely managed by man. They can therefore be useful indicators of forage availability for the wider pollinator population. The output of this project has helped inform land use and planting to benefit Scottish pollinators, particularly during early/late season forage gaps. (SASA, Strathclyde University, SBA, Coloss) Published 2018
The potential of nitrogen-fixing crops to provide resources for insect pollinators. Alternative approaches to sustainable land management. (SRUC, JHI). This work is now complete and written up in a peer-reviewed publication, blog and policy briefing 2016-2022
Alternative approaches to sustainable land management. The impact of agri-environmental interventions on beneficial insects and ecosystem service at the farm scale This work will be continued via a NERC DTP PhD and key findings presented at stakeholder meetings. (SRUC) 2018-2022
Modelling the current and future GHG emissions and wider impacts in the Scottish beef, sheep and dairy sectors: RESAS SRUC-C5-1 (Collaboration led by Leiden University with over 20 other institutes across the globe including SRUC). This expert elicitation process categorised the relative value of 24 different land covers for pollinating insects. These characterisation factors will enable us to incorporate pollinators in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) allowing us to predict how land use will impact on wild pollinators (2022 – 2023).
Species-rich grassland opportunity mapping across Glasgow city region. Here biological records and spatial habitat maps were innovatively integrated to map species-rich grassland networks and to identify opportunity areas to target habitat creation. The identification of opportunity areas has enabled the prioritisation of habitat creation to optimise connectivity (Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network/SRUC 2023).
The value of gardens for floral resources to pollinating insects. Using DNA meta-barcoding to study the foraging preferences of bumblebees, hoverflies and solitary bees (National Botanic Garden of Wales, Bangor University) 2020.
Plants for pollinators: developing and testing seed mixes for pollinators in gardens and amenity spaces. Testing annual seed mixes for their suitability to bumblebees, hoverflies and solitary bees. (National Botanic Garden of Wales, Aberystwyth University) 2020.
The Pasture for Pollinators project looks at how dairy farmers can manage their forage resources to conserve and enhance populations of pollinators, bumblebees in particular. The work is based on six organic farms in North East Wales, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. (European Innovation Partnership Wales, Bumblebee Conservation Trust) 2018 – 2020
The role of road verges in conservation of wild pollinators. (University of Cambridge, Bumblebee Conservation Trust). 2020 – to date.
Monitoring floral resources with remote-sensing satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles. (University of East Anglia, Hutchinsons Ltd.). 2017 to date.
Relative importance of wild and managed pollinators in soft fruit production. (University of East Anglia, Berry World)
Sustainable Management of Orchard Pollination Services. A team of industry and academic partners tested pollinator management strategies in apple orchards, including flower-rich margins and nesting habitats, to boost pollinator populations and improve yield and crop quality. (University of Reading, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, National Institute of Agricultural Botany, Avalon Produce, Worldwide Fruit, Syngenta). 2018 to date.
The GFS Resilient pollinators project. Spatial modelling to identify and value the UK’s pollinator natural capital, how this is likely to change under future scenarios and the implications of these changes for the resilience of pollination services to UK agriculture. (University of Reading, University of Huddersfield, University of Northampton, Global Food Security). 2019 to date.
The Pollinator Monitoring and Research Partnership (PMRP) was established in 2014. In 2017 1 km square surveys began. The cost of running a well-designed monitoring scheme is significantly lower than the value of pollination services to the UK economy and provides high quality scientific data for a lower cost than running separate research projects. (University of Reading, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) 2014-2027.
The PMRP wider citizen-science pollinator Flower-Insect Timed Counts began in 2018. Last year over 1,600 counts submitted. (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the PMRP) 2018-2027.
X-Polli:Nation. Research into methods and ideas for monitoring and conserving pollinators, improving citizen science practice and researching how Artificial Intelligence technologies can be used to monitor pollinators. It encourages citizens to create, maintain and monitor pollinator-friendly habitats (University of Aberdeen, Open University, Imperial College London, Learning Through Landscape, Museo di Storia Naturale della Maremma (Italy)). Current.
Effects of future agricultural change scenarios on beneficial insects. Study concluded that restoring semi-natural grassland should result in increases in pollinator richness and functional diversity, even if agricultural practices remain intensive on cropped land. In contrast, any expansion of arable land is likely to be accompanied by widespread declines in richness of beneficial insects, even if cropping practices become less intensive. (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) 2020
The impact of upland grazing management on floristic composition, pollinator assemblages and the robustness of plant-pollinator interaction networks. Alternative approaches to sustainable land management (SRUC) 2016-2022.
The structure and species-richness of plant-pollinator networks. This research showed how the removal of flowers provided by more generalised plants can negatively affect patterns of interaction between the remaining flowers and pollinators. It provided further evidence of the importance of common plants for flower-visiting insect communities (Czech Academy of Sciences). 2020.
Wild Line (2019) and Daisy Chain (2021). Each project involved planting of 8 native wildflower meadows along the south shore of the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh, to be followed by 10 years of monitoring alongside unmodified grassland control plots. Flowers and pollinators have been surveyed at the Wild Line meadow and control plots for 2021-3 inclusive, showing substantial benefits of meadows for pollinator diversity and abundance. The survey data are being analysed in a Masters by Research degree by Isabella Cornwell at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution, the University of Edinburgh.
Taxonomy
Characterisation of the British honey bee metagenome. This project aimed to delve into the genetics and microbiome of British honey bees, identifying some key ‘friends and foes’ responsible for bee health, and building on previous work to assess the importance of ‘native, hardy’ honey bee stocks; thus highlighting the importance of sustainable local honey bee populations. (Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Fera Science Ltd, Newcastle University, SASA, Agroscope Switzerland, University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden) 2018
High sample genotyping for estimating C-lineage introgression in the dark honey bee. This highly collaborative project looked at genetic diversity across European honey bee populations. This paper: (High sample throughout genotyping for estimating C-lineage introgression in the dark honeybee: an accurate and cost-effective SNP-based tool) highlighted the prevalence of native black bee genetics in northern and western populations despite continual importation of bees, indicating that these genes may play an important role in resilience in harsher climatic regions. (CIMO Portugal, CBMA Portugal, National University of Ireland Galway, Roslin Institute, Agroscope Switzerland, Aarhus University Denmark, Universidad de Murcia Spain, CNRS France, Universite de Versailles France, SASA, Texas A&M University USA) 2018
DNA metabarcoding to investigate the foraging preferences of honey bees and a UK- wide survey of honey to investigate landscape-level foraging. (National Botanic Garden of Wales, Bangor University) 2020.
Pests and diseases
Development of a robust subclinical method for the analysis of European foulbrood in honey bee colonies. The aim of this project is to provide additional tools to support the European Foulbrood Control Plan, identifying ‘contact colonies’ prior to symptomatic disease to reduce the pathogen load at the apiary level, improving sustainability and reducing pathogen spill-over to neighbouring honey bee colonies. (SASA) 2022
Healthy Honey Bees – analysis of the Deformed Wing Virus population to assess rational Varroa control on a Scottish island. Project investigated whether co-ordinating varroa control across beekeeping communities may improve control of the pest, overall bee health and sustainability. (University of St Andrews, University of Aberdeen, SASA) 2020
Development of a rapid screening tool to identify bumblebee pathogens. This aim of this student placement project was to build capability at SASA to monitor for pathogens affecting bumblebees, and to assess potential infestations which could affect both managed and wild bee populations. Capability now in place (at SASA) and available for use in the field. (University of St Andrews, SASA) 2018
The PoshBee project is assessing the combined risks of pesticides, pathogens and poor nutrition on wild and managed bees to improve practices and policies. (Reading University, Royal Holloway University London, British Beekeepers Association and National Farmers Union). 2020
Climate change
Moth distribution study suggesting that summer warming is an important factor driving northward range expansions and corresponding increases in occupancy, whilst this is being countered for some species by negative impacts from land management practices and habitat changes, together with warmer and wetter winters, leading to population declines. (Butterfly Conservation, University of Kent, Rothamsted Research; NatureScot) 2015.
Find out more in our Blog
You can follow the progress of many of the projects contributing to Scotland’s Pollinator Strategy, and discover more about pollinators and pollination, in our regular blogs.
2023 subjects included the following:
A festive treat (our KSB Pollinator Friendly award)
NHS Scotland – Greenspace and Pollinators
Not biting the hand that pollinates you
Foggie-toddlers and confusing history lessons
Tell us more about your Project
Do you have a pollinator-friendly project which hasn’t been mentioned in our Progress Report?
If so we would love to hear from you and acknowledge your work.
Please contact [email protected].
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