Members of the public are being urged to contribute to surveys of wildlife in order to help farmers preserve vital insect pollinators. On Open Farm Sunday, which takes place next weekend, visitors to farms are being asked to contribute to the National Farm Pollinator Survey.

The survey has been devised by LEAF in order to address the growing threat posed by falling numbers of insect pollinators; 80 percent of British plant types are reliant, at least in part, on insect pollination and insect pollination contributes an estimated £500 million to the UK economy each year.

LEAf hopes the information collected through the Pollinator Survey will improve understanding of the ecology of insects visiting flowers on farms, helping farmers work to conserve and encourage pollinating insects whilst improving public understanding of the importance of insects.

Visitors to farm next week will be asked to record the number of insects they see in two different habitats, such as a field of oilseed rape and a margin of wildflowers. Ecologists have also selected five target insects, including the common blue butterfly and 14 spot ladybird, for visitors to record anywhere on the farm they visit.  Explaining the workings of the study, Dr. Helen Roy, NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, said, “After Open Farm Sunday all the research will be collated and analysed by a team of scientists and the results shared with farmers to help them conserve pollinating insects on their farms.”

The RSPB has also called for members of the public to help with a wildlife survey. The charity has asked member of the public to contribute to its summer survey by spending an hour watching their garden and recording all types of wildlife they see, including birds and insects, then submitting the results on the RSPB website before 10th June.

RSPB spokesperson Stephanie Sim said, “Our gardens are haven for wildlife and are homes to more birds, butterflies, insects and mammals that we can imagine. However often, because we aren’t looking we don’t realise what an oasis they are. This survey gives us the chance to take a look, deeply appreciate what we have, and then by letting the RSPB know, it also gives a great snapshot as to how wildlife is doing across the UK.” 

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