Our garden survey findings in the summer of 2025 in the Strettons area help underline just how key our gardens can be for wildlife. Many of the insects in our garden are not just attractive to have around, but they also pollinate our flowers, fruits and vegetable, not to mention the field crops we all depend for our staple foods. Without plentiful insects at the base of the food chain, our garden birds and mammals would be struggling.
From our online survey, good numbers of respondents were reasonably confident in identifying the butterflies and moths in their gardens with one person noting 20 species. Some observant respondents had recorded rarities such as Purple Hairstreak, Marbled White and Clouded Yellow. 44 % of respondents said that they observed damselflies and dragonflies in their gardens during the year. 12% were able to identify some of the species with an encouraging range of species noted including Golden ringed dragonflies, a local rarity seen in 7 gardens.
The physical survey visited 18 gardens over the last weekend of August. We looked out for a wide range of insects and used photos and recommended smart phone apps. These have improved hugely in recent years giving ‘non experts’ confidence to identify insects and submit records.
One technique we used was the pollinator count. We counted the number of insects landing within a half metre square on a flowering plant popular with bees and butterflies within 10 minutes. Species counted included bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies, beetles, hoverflies and flies. The UK average for a pollinator count is 15. However, the average count in Stretton gardens was 22 insects.
Eight species of bumblebee and the honeybee were recorded. 2024 was a tough year for several species of bumblebee and for the Red-tailed bumblebee in particular. it was therefore encouraging to record them as present here. In addition, 8 species of solitary bee were identified (some with the help of county recorder Ian Cheeseborough)
From sweep sampling, four species of shieldbug were found. These insects are easy to overlook but have the great advantage of not immediately flying off when caught. We found Hairy, Green, Hawthorn and Tortoise shieldbugs.
There are several ways we can encourage the diversity of insects in our gardens. Setting aside an area of lawn as a wildflower area during the summer months allows wildflowers and grasses to flower and set seed, and for insects to lay eggs which can hatch and thrive. Bee hotels are great if you can make or buy them, but bundles of cut bamboo canes 10 or 15 cm in length are almost as useful. Place these in south-facing spots for solitary mining and leaf-cutter bees to use. Many bumblebees and solitary bees nest in the soil – preferring undisturbed, sunny banks. Leaving stones and rocks or sinking in broken flowerpots, can help them find nest sites.
In the summer months there are usually plenty of flowering plants. But early spring and late autumn can prove very challenging for pollinating insects and it’s worth trying to introduce new plants to cover these gaps. In early spring, primroses, cowslips and buttercups are all useful while brambles and late flowering ivy can stretch the season into October and November. Lavender, Nepeta and Vipers Bugloss flower over many months and are much appreciated by pollinators.
The full survey findings can be downloaded here: Strettons Garden Wildlife survey 2025 (PDF)
Dr Isabel Carter, Chair of SACWG
