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Started by Diane at 27 Jul 2011 2:40 PM. Topic has 2 replies.
  
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 27 Jul 2011, 2:40 PM
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Diane
Joined on 22 Jul 2011
Posts 2
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Is there any added habitat value in using pollen+nectar strips next to floristically enhanced margins?
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I've recently heard of locating a grass margin next to a floristically enhanced margin with a pollen end nectar strip on the other side of the floristic margin. Having these three options together as one block was said to be beneficial because the two flower-rich habitats provide food for different species of insects that will all also overwinter in the grass margin.
Does anyone else have experience of this sandwich of options and can anyone explain why the two flower-rich options benefit insects by being adjacent to each other. Won't the insects that make use of the flowers mostly be mobile species that can move between different types of flower-rich habitat on a farm as the season progresses? Surely it's better to spread any floristic habitat around a bit, although I understand why locating these next to wintering habitat of a tussocky grass margin or beetle bank is a good idea.
Thanks.
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27 Jul 2011, 10:25 PM
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mike.mcdowall
Joined on 03 Mar 2010
E.Lothian
Posts 29
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Re: Is there any added habitat value in using pollen+nectar strips next to floristically enhanced margins?
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I have wildflower margins, and intend develop strips of clover between them and the crop in time. Benefits of this were given by Mark Nowakowski (can't remember where I saw this).
In addition to that I will be doing this for a practical reason. Fertiliser spinners are not particularly accurate at boundaries, no matter how hard we try. I want to keep the fertiliser away from the wildflower margins.
Mike.
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23 Aug 2011, 9:41 AM
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Diane
Joined on 22 Jul 2011
Posts 2
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Re: Is there any added habitat value in using pollen+nectar strips next to floristically enhanced margins?
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Thanks Mike. That's an interesting point about the fertiliser spinners, I guess another way would be to have a sterile strip between the crop and wildflower marfgin, although wouldn't be providing any habitat for bees and other insects the way that the clover will.
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