Aberdeen B-Lines

What will the project do?

Aberdeen B-Lines aims to change the way grasslands are managed within the city of Aberdeen, serving the dual purpose of providing suitable and more well-connected habitats for pollinators to flourish, and improving the mental and physical wellbeing of city inhabitants by providing more nature rich green spaces.

Additionally, volunteer training events and increased monitoring of pollinator species present in the area will be implemented.

Species of interest include Clarke’s Mining Bee (Andrena clarkella) and Early Nomad Bee (Nomada leucophthalma) as well as a wide range of pollinators and other wildlife that will benefit from the project.

The twelve sites that are the focus of Aberdeen B-Lines along the coast and the River’s Don and Dee are:

• Torry Battery (Greyhope Road)
• Donmouth Local Nature Reserve
• Aberdeen Beach Esplanade
• Seaton Park
• Duthie Park
• Riverside Drive (Garthdee)
• Riverview Drive (Dyce)
• Stonehaven Road
• Garthdee Road
• Deeside Way old railway stations
• Westfield Park
• TECA (P&J Live)

These sites will be populated by diverse and colourful wildflower meadows, with locally relevant and sourced plant species, to provide vital forage and nesting sites for a range of pollinator species such as bumblebees, hoverflies and butterflies.

The habitat creation and monitoring will be undertaken with community volunteers to get people inspired by nature and more invested in their green spaces.

By improving understanding of the importance of biodiversity and pollinators as well as transforming how grasslands are managed within the city and surrounding areas, Aberdeen B-Lines will provide habitats for pollinator and invertebrate species, helping to improve local populations. This project will also increase the potential for expanding the range of ‘species on the edge’, as a response to habitat loss resulting from climate change induced storm damage further South.

How can you get involved?

Communities can get involved through a series of opportunities including volunteering, habitat creation events, training workshops and “Get Close to Nature” walks.

We will be seeking volunteers to:

• Help with wildflower plug planting and seeding;
• Assist with pollinator monitoring activities such as FIT counts.
• Add their own pollinator sites to the B-Lines map

Information, advice and support is also available to landowners who would like to learn more about the project and improve their land for pollinators.

To find out more about getting involved in our Aberdeen B-Lines project, please contact Ruth Quigley (Conservation Officer) at [email protected]