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Gardens Help to Feed Pollinators All Year Round

Source: Press release University of Bristol 2 min Reading Time

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A new study at the University of Bristol has found out that gardens offer a stable source of nectar for pollinators all year round which keeps them fed in the scarcity of farmland nectar.

The team looked at how much nectar, an essential food for pollinators, is available in gardens and farmland throughout the year. (Source:  Tom Timberlake)
The team looked at how much nectar, an essential food for pollinators, is available in gardens and farmland throughout the year.
(Source: Tom Timberlake)

Bristol/UK – This consistency means that even small patches of gardens in rural areas can sustain pollinators, particularly in early spring and late summer when nectar is scarce. In the findings, published recently in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, scientists at the University of Bristol discovered that gardens can provide between 50 % and 95 % of the total nectar during these critical times.

Lead author Dr Thomas Timberlake based in Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences explained: “It’s well known that gardens and urban areas can be great places for pollinators like bees, flies and butterflies. In fact, past research shows that cities often have more types and numbers of pollinators than farming areas. “There’s also evidence that pollinator populations are healthier in rural areas when they’re close to small towns or villages so we know gardens are good for pollinators, but we don’t fully understand why.

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