This past summer was a hot one – phew! But how did the butterflies and bumblebees on The Community Farm fare?
Now that autumn has arrived, bringing cooler days, welcome rain, and still a touch of sunshine, our dedicated team of butterfly and bumblebee surveyors have wrapped up another season of monitoring. From March through to October, they’ve been walking the farm tracks, gathering data that not only helps us compare year-on-year changes here, but also feeds into the national picture across the UK.
Signs of recovery
You may remember that 2024 was the worst year on record for butterflies and bumblebees. A cold, wet spring disrupted early nesting and reproduction, leading to a dramatic drop in numbers – both on The Farm and across the country. This year’s long, hot summer brought hope of recovery. And indeed, numbers have returned to average levels. That’s good news – but it doesn’t change the bigger story: across the UK, both butterflies and bumblebees continue to face an overall long-term decline. These creatures aren’t just beautiful and fascinating – they’re essential pollinators, and a vital food source for many of our birds.
Looking Ahead
The surveys may have ended for now, but our work continues. Over the winter, staff and volunteers will be planning how to improve habitats on The Farm, making them more resilient against increasingly extreme weather. Every bit of data we collect is crucial, feeding into national databases run by the Butterfly Conservation and Bumblebee Conservation Trusts.
The Joy of Surveying
It’s not all clipboards and counting! Ask any of our surveyors, and they’ll tell you how rewarding it is to spend a summer’s day strolling the farm tracks, guided by birdsong, spotting the scuttle of a beetle or the shimmer of a mint moth, pausing to chat with field volunteers – and still managing to count our flying friends. If this sparks your interest, why not join us in 2026? No experience is needed – you’ll pick things up naturally as you go. It’s a chance to enjoy a slow, mindful walk with a friendly team while making a real contribution to wildlife conservation.
To register your interest please email Mhairi.
