Autumnwatch

Springwatch has come and gone in the UK and already we are into Autumnwatch. Blackberries, hawthorn berries, swifts, conkers, ivy and oak are key indicator species.

Bees have been a particular issue:

We have had a number of postings on the UKPN's online forum from people concerned that they had seen fewer bees this year. Mike Edwards, our bee expert, commented that the combination of warm then cold and wet weather that we had last year, followed by the prolonged bouts of wet weather this year, plus the temperature extremes, have not been good for many insect species.

“However, insects are resilient and must have met these conditions before. It will mean local extinctions, but this is normal. What is important is the overall geographic spread of species, so that there are remaining populations to colonise areas again. Extinction and colonisation are facts of insect life, these processes also happen as areas lose the conditions which suited the insects in the first place.”