An August deadline

Phew!  A busy couple of weeks before the end of August deadline for the latest round of agri-environment applications.  I've mainly been contacted regarding applications from within areas where Great Yellow Bumblebee is either present, or is likely to benefit.  There have been one or two for Moss Carder Bee as well, where the range does not overlap with Great Yellow, and one for an exciting business initiative to develop machinery and save time, money and fuel on preparing and sowing small areas.

Discovering the bee in new areas means that more farmers and crofters have been able to support this species on their application.  As a Species Action Framework priority species it ticks one of the Regional Priority boxes, but this alone will not be enough to succeed.  Ways to add value for great Yellow Bumblebee, over and above the minimum requirement, include a commitment to sowing a BBCT recommended mix if creating species-rich grassland (using Scottish provenance wild flower seed), and including Phacelia and red clover in cover crops.  I have also been making recommendations on grazing levels and stock exclusion periods, so that where practical, floral resources can be maximised (which helps the flowers set seed too).  So, in have gone nearly 50 applications that between them could contribute well over 500ha of habitat managed with benefit to Great Yellow Bumblebee, mainly in Orkney, Caithness, Coll and Tiree.  Although the number of applications has increased, and the pot of money is shrinking, we hope that the decisions of the various regional committees (RPACs) will see as many of these as possible accepted in November.  Fingers crossed we will hear some positive results before Christmas!  The next round has opened, with a closing deadline early in the new year, so more applications are arriving in my email inbox.