Bumblees Hit

Bumblebees and butterflies have seen their number plummet after another year of unsettled weather.

10:29 31 December 2016

According to the National Trust 10th annual wildlife report, mild winters and bad weather in summer have resulted in the numbers of bumblebees and butterflies plummeting. However, the study added that it was a good year for livestock farmers as grass growth rose. It then urged conservationists and farmers to work together.

 

Nature and wildlife specialist for the Trust, Matthew Oates, said: "2016 comes on top of an unsettled decade, with many species struggling in the face of climate change and more intensive farming practices.

 

"When you do get good weather during the brighter months of the year, it's almost inevitably short-lived and finished with something nasty.

 

"During the brightest months, we do seem to be getting more extreme weather events, most of which aren't nice."

 

Based on observations in Somerset, wildflowers were outgrown by grass in 2016 causing the number of bumblebees to drop by 85per cent.

 

Meanwhile, at Purbeck in Dorset, the number of meadow butterflies also dropped with volunteers recording a fall in sightings of marbled white numbers of 73per cent and 23per cent fewer common blue butterflies.