Our latest article has kindly been provided by the Devon Local Nature Partnership about how we can make Devon as pollinator-friendly as possible.
You may have heard that our vital UK pollinators are in decline with a number of key species going extinct in the region? To raise the profile of what’s happening with these valuable insects, the Devon LNP want us to sign the Devon Pollinators Pledge and celebrate these amazing insects throughout July 2016 as Devon’s Pollinators’ Month.
Our natural environment is breathtaking but it needs as much help as we can give. Therefore the Devon Local Nature Partnership have designated July as Devon’s Pollinators’ Month. From wild flower meadows to orchards and back gardens; from the food and drink that we enjoy thanks to them, to the culture and history of our six-legged allies, these will be the focus of the month. Find out about what events and activities will be happening during July by clicking this link.
But you don’t have to wait until next month to do your bit! You can sign up to the Devon Pollinators Pledge now to help bees, butterflies and other insects by carrying out one or more practical actions on your patch. Why not plant bee-friendly flowers or make a bug hotel? Or sow an area in your garden with wild flower seeds (leaving the flowers once they’ve blossomed to set seed before cutting). And please think carefully about your use of pesticides, especially where pollinators are active.
Here on Exmoor we have one of the most important areas in the country for butterflies, so we have designed a pocket guide to help you spot them. And if you happen to spot a Common Blue Butterfly (which isn’t as common as its name suggests), let us know for our #WildWatch2016 campaign (you can submit your sighting here). Keep an eye out for them in sunny sheltered spots, such as road verges, coastal dunes and undercliffs or woodland clearings. But if you don’t get a chance to see them here on Exmoor, they also can be found on waste ground, disused pits and quarries, golf courses, and urban habitats such as cemeteries.
Pollinator spotting is easy and fun! And your pledge to act, when added to thousands of others across Devon, will make a huge difference! And don’t forget to tell everyone what you are doing using the #devonpollinators hashtag on Twitter (follow @Devon_LNP) or their Facebook page. You could win a range of bee friendly products in our Devon Pollinators competition, so get beesy!
Exmoor Views 