Britain’s red-tailed bumblebees may have an unlikely saviour in solar farms

The Guardian
The Guardian
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Britain's red-tailed bumblebee faces habitat loss due to intensive farming, but solar farms with sensitive planting may help revive their numbers.
Britain’s red-tailed bumblebees may have an unlikely saviour in solar farms
A What happened
The red-tailed bumblebee, one of the UK's most common species, has experienced a dramatic decline over the past three decades due to habitat loss from intensive farming practices. As winter approaches, these bees prepare for hibernation, but their future is uncertain. Recent research highlights an unexpected ally in the form of solar farms. By examining 1,042 existing solar farms, scientists found that those with wildlife-friendly management practices, such as flower plantings and hedges, saw bumblebee populations more than double. In contrast, solar farms that were simply turfed offered little to no benefit. While the positive effects were primarily localized to the solar farms themselves, a network of well-planted solar farms could significantly enhance the bumblebee population in the UK, especially if surrounding farmland remains unproductive.

Key insights

  • 1

    Habitat Loss Impact

    Intensive farming has severely reduced bumblebee habitats.

  • 2

    Solar Farms' Role

    Wildlife-friendly solar farms can significantly boost bumblebee numbers.

  • 3

    Seasonal Behavior

    Bumblebees hibernate in winter, impacting their population dynamics.

Takeaways

The integration of wildlife-friendly practices in solar farm management presents a promising opportunity to support the revival of red-tailed bumblebee populations in the UK, potentially mitigating the effects of habitat loss.

Topics

Agriculture Sustainability Wildlife