In order to monitor the success of the species-rich grassland meadow we have transformed at Lark Meadow, biodiversity surveys are essential proof.
This summer, LANCE Trustee Owen has been undertaking a series of butterfly* surveys in the meadow. After last year’s surprise record numbers of common blue butterflies, we’ve been excited to see if nature is still thriving in the meadow.
These results are positive - showing a higher density than the surrounding areas, however, we may not be alone in thinking - where are all the butterflies?
A notable decline in butterfly numbers
This year, it seems, there have been fewer butterflies than ever in the UK. Recently, in the Guardian, Tony Juniper (who is Chair of Natural England) highlighted the noticeable difference:
“When I was a child travelling in a car during the summer, journeys were accompanied by windscreen collisions with all kinds of insects – moths, beetles, butterflies, aphids, lacewings, craneflies and more. When we stopped, a clean of the front windscreen was often required, as the invertebrate debris overwhelmed the washers and wipers.
“These days, drivers can cross the entire country and finish their journey with a clean screen. It’s true that cars are more streamlined and that some small flying creatures will whiz past rather than being hit, but number plates are still as flat and as lethal as they ever were, and from those we have some data.”
He goes on to say,
“Aside from the depressing silence and stillness of gardens, woods, hedgerows and grasslands, there are more practical implications. For example, many of our crop plants – including oilseed rape, tomatoes, apples and strawberries – depend on wild insects to pollinate them. Insects are also the food source of many mammals and birds that are also in decline.”
What can we do to help butterflies locally?
Butterflies, pollinators and nearly all native insects are struggling with habitat and food loss, climate instability and the use of harmful chemicals. Some of the most essential change will have to come from Government and the agriculture sector, however, there are actions individuals can take to make a real difference.
Gardening for pollinators
Tony stresses the need to shift the culture that favours neat and tidy verges, edges and hedges to create wilder gardens that create more extensive and more connected natural habitats. Did you know that the UK's gardens are larger than all of our National Nature Reserves combined - so, if everyone gardened with nature in mind it would make a real difference. Easy ways to do this include: leaving longer between mowing, strimming and cutting back hedges; create dead wood piles; plant native, pollinator-friendly plants; and don't use chemical pesticides, fertilisers or weed killers.
Take part in a survey
The second thing you can do to help drive change is to take part in surveys and counts, like the Big Butterfly Count. Juniper stresses that one thing that we can all do to help is to get out and gather more information and stresses that Big Butterfly Count is "a vital national counting exercise - a fantastic example of citizen science in action".
Collection of data in Long Ashton, and further afield, will help underline what the situation is for butterflies on our doorsteps - and what can be done to help rectify it.
Last year, sadly, very few gardens in Long Ashton were involved in the Big Butterfly Count, and only one in Barrow Gurney.
It only takes 15 minutes, on a sunny, windless late morning/afternoon, to do a count in your gardens. You can download a simple ID sheet, and it’s easy to upload your results to the website or app.
The count is running between Friday 12th July and Sunday 4th August. Please encourage friends and neighbours to do the same!
We'd love to know if you do take part - and tag us in any butterfly photos on Facebook.
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*Other notable species recorded included:
Crab spider (pictured above)
Emperor dragonfly
Blue-tailed damsel
Rossellini bush cricket
Black tailed skimmer dragonfly
Skylarks
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