Butterfly and bee monitoring schemes are being launched

The commission is joining the UK Butterfly Monitoring and Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s BeeWalk scheme’s this spring.

The projects involve walking a route, monthly for bumblebees and weekly for butterflies, throughout spring, summer and the start of autumn, counting the species and number of individuals seen.

‘Then all you have to do is report what you have seen,’ said ecologist Charlotte Burgoine.

‘It’s fun and easy, and a great way to connect with nature, learn a little more, and contribute to wildlife conservation. If this sounds like your kind of thing, or you’d like to know more, we’d love to hear from you.’

There are currently 20 species of butterfly and six species of bumblebee seen regularly in Guernsey and Herm.

‘While we know what species are present, we need long-term consistent data to better understand population changes and to ensure that conservation measures are targeted and effective,’ said Miss Burgoine.

‘Butterflies and bumblebees are excellent indicator species for the health of the environment.

‘They have short life cycles, so populations of these species respond quickly to environmental changes.’

Data collected through the projects will be used to help determine how butterfly and bumblebee populations are faring in the island.

And with many pollinators declining globally and nationally, Miss Burgoine said that it was likely that declines may also be seen in Guernsey.

‘It’s important that we capture this information in order to understand whether conservation measures are needed to protect our pollinator species,’ she said.

‘These citizen science projects are both national schemes, so data collected will help to build a picture for the whole of the British Isles, as well as locally.’

Training sessions are being offered by the Nature Commission to help volunteers to learn more about the methodology and identification.

n For more information email office@naturecommisson.gg