City hopes to become 'pollinator capital'

Hoverfly populations have dropped by 44% since 1980

A wildlife trust is running a project which could help a city become the pollinator capital of the country.

Avon Wildlife Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) are now working with people across Bristol and Bath to create a 43 mile (70km) "bee-line" for the Pollinator Pathways Project.

It will run from Chew Valley, up the east of Bath, to South Gloucestershire to help pollinator insect populations grow.

Shelly Easton, head of nature's recovery at Avon Wildlife Trust said: "The focus this time is on hoverflies because they're vital for food security. A third of our food requires pollination. This includes apples, strawberries, nuts and rapeseed oil."

Hoverflies are often mistaken for bees or wasps, they can be told apart as they only have one set of wings

She explained that over 85% of Britain's insect-pollinated crops, relied on "wild pollinators" such as the hoverfly.

They pollinated 52% of the world's crops and protected them by eating aphids.

Avon Wildlife Trust has partnered with the Bug Life charity, encouraging people across Bristol to build hoverfly lagoons and plant more flowers.

Ms Easton added that the planned bee-line would cover the "best habitats for pollinators and hoverflies that exist already," and by strengthening that line it "decreases isolated patches of habitat."

'Stepping stones'

When areas of habitat reach a city, it can be a block for insects due to the infrastructure and lack of resources.

The bee-line would help by adding "stepping stones" which would make species like the hoverfly less vulnerable when the seasons change as there would be a bigger support network.

"It will create a landscape where they can move freely," she said.

She added the goal was for people in and around Bristol to be able to live in a place where nature was richer.