TY Sustainability Class taking part in a Citizen Science session

TY Sustainability and Geography class took part in a Citizen Science session in which they visited the meadow near the Saile Sports and Leisure Centre to spot pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Led by ecologist Patrick McQuinn from Wild Work, the students learnt how to identify different species and how to upload their details to the National Biodiversity Data Centre, thereby taking their first steps to becoming citizen scientists. The students took to the task enthusiastically heading off in pairs and groups armed with butterfly nets and collecting jars to find pollinators and other insects. They found a few big bumblebees (most likely queens) as well as wasps, crane flies, shieldbugs and ladybirds. The butterflies were too fast and avoided being caught. By recording such species, students are participating in important work which will help us understand if species are in decline or otherwise under threat so that measures can be taken to protect their habitats, increase their numbers and improve biodiversity.