All posts by Heather

‘Dangerous’ weeds good for bees and diversity, say scientists

The Times reports five species of wildflower native to Britain are officially classed as injurious under the 1959 Weeds Act, meaning that they are considered able to cause harm and landowners can be ordered to control their spread. However, a study has found that three of the weeds — ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) and two types of thistle (Cirsium arvense and C. vulgare) — are enormously popular with bees and other insects. 

Swallows are no longer migrating the 6,000 miles to South Africa and are staying in Britain over winter amid milder temperatures thanks to climate change, study reveals

Swallow photo by Mark Robinson under creative commons

Daily Mail reports traditionally swallows head south at the end of summer because the European winter is too cold for the flying insects on which they feed. (…) But with the run of mild winters in recent years a small number of swallows have been able to attempt to spend the winter months here. 

Boost for butterflies as gardeners take a walk on the wild side

The Daily Telegraph reports dwindling sightings of the insects mean people are being encouraged ‘rewild’ their garden by leaving parts of it for nature. A poll of over 2,000 people by BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine found that 54 per cent of people had created an “uncultivated area” in their garden last year, up 11 per cent on the year before.

Kate Bradbury, wildlife editor at the magazine, said gardeners keen to help boost butterflies could also resist the urge to clear up dead leaves or cut back dead stems from which chrysalides might be hanging.