Buglife recently launched the complete B-Lines map for the UK, developed over nearly ten years with partners and stakeholders. Over 1,700 opportunities to benefit pollinators have been identified, including on school grounds, golf courses and parks.

The accompanying report includes a case study of the John Muir Pollinator Way, Scotland’s first B-Line within five miles of over 1.3 million people, stretching from Helensburgh in the west to Dunbar in the east. 

Pollinator habitat patches are being created in partnership with each of the nine local authorities that the B-Line passes through. They are designed to reconnect landscapes, enabling pollinators and other wildlife to move freely, and supporting nature’s recovery. Parks, road verges and school grounds are all being transformed from green deserts into colourful, flower-filled havens. The new, vibrant habitats benefit not only bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects, they also contribute to the health and wellbeing of local people.

"B-Lines demonstrate how a locally focused approach can produce a nationally coherent nature recovery map. I have watched them grow vigorously from the seed sown in Yorkshire in 2011 by Buglife, Natural England, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the local authorities."

Matt Shardlow, Chief Executive, Buglife

It has been predicted that 40-70% of species could go extinct if action is not taken to enable species to move through the landscape. In recent years it has become apparent that pollinator populations are fragile, and if not cared for they can become damaged, depleted and cease to function effectively. The 2016 UK State of Nature report revealed that 59% of invertebrate species have declined over recent decades. The main cause for this is the widespread destruction and fragmentation of habitat. For pollinating insects this means the loss of wildflower-rich habitats like wildflower-rich grasslands, meadows and heathlands.

Are you on a B-Line? Check out the Buglife regional maps where you can add on your pollinator project to show how you are helping to create B-Lines!