Saving the small things that run the planetThe John Muir Pollinator Way was Scotland’s first B-Line! This inspirational landscape scale project has been creating and enhancing habitat for pollinators along the entire route of the John Muir Way.
The John Muir Way stretches 134 miles across Scotland, running from the birthplace of John Muir in Dunbar on the east coast all the way to Helensburgh in the west. This network of good quality pathways includes cycleways, canals and even disused railways and passes through nine different local authority areas.
The John Muir Pollinator Way created a ‘B-Lines’ opportunity map that follows the route of the John Muir Way across Scotland, as well as 3km either side of the route. This map has identified where wildflower forage and nesting habitats for pollinators and other wildlife can be created, enhanced and managed along the John Muir Way including on school grounds, golf courses, cemeteries and public parks.
Through this mapping exercise, we engaged with local communities, NGO’s and local authorities to identify initial stretches along the John Muir Way where wildflower meadow creation would provide the biggest benefits to the different communities along the route. Working in partnership with the Central Scotland Green Network Trust (now Green Action Trust) and with funding from Greggs Foundation, and Scottish Government we transformed and enhanced over 50 sites along the John Muir Way through our initial projects.
With further funding from CSGN Development Fund and NatureScot (through the Biodiversity Challenge Fund), we went on to deliver the Central Scotland B-Lines project which has increased the area of flower-rich grasslands and improved habitat connectivity within East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, Edinburgh and South Lanarkshire. This project has created and restored wildflower-rich habitat across 47 sites within the four Local Authorities.
We have worked with Councils, landowners, and local communities to create and enhance habitat and have provided advice on suitable land management practices and changes in management regimes to allow flower-rich habitats to regenerate and be sustainably managed.
These new connected habitats are already improving sites for pollinators such as bees, butterflies and wasps in the Central Scotland Green Belt, allowing them to be more resilient to climate change and habitat loss in our ever-changing world. The B-Lines network will also benefit a range of other wildlife from small mammals to birds.
The establishment of these connected habitats also provide a nature rich experience for walkers and cyclists, and improve local green spaces and enhance green infrastructure for some of Scotland’s most deprived communities.
Try out our local pollinator spotter sheet.
Do you live, work or manage land along the John Muir Way or are you part of a community group or school?
We’d love you to help us create B-Lines; once you have created your flower-rich habitat please add your site to our B-Lines map.
Get in touch at [email protected]
The John Muir Pollinator Way was funded and supported by NatureScot, Central Scotland Green Network Development Fund (now Green Action Trust), Central Scotland Green Network Trust, Greggs Foundation and Scottish Government
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