A 150,000-hectare insect ‘commuter’ network called B-lines, to provide nectar-rich pit stops for the UK’s pollinators
The number of flying insects in the country have fallen by nearly 60% in the last 17 years.
By Kimberly RodriguesJul 07, 2022
According to a report published by Biological Conservation in 2019, 40 percent of all insect species are declining the world over, and a third of them are endangered. Also, 10 percent of all insect species worldwide are threatened with extinction. This spells bad news for humans, experts say.
In the UK too, the insect population is declining drastically. In fact, a recent survey conducted by conservation group Buglife and the Kent Wildlife Trust has found that the number of flying insects in the country have fallen by nearly 60% in the last 17 years.
The survey also revealed that in the last 100 years, 20 bee and wasp species have become extinct and half of UK butterfly species are now threatened, state the charity Butterfly Conservation.
In a report posted in CNN Jamie Robins, programmes manager at Buglife said this can be attributed to multiple factors, including climate change and the use of pesticides, while huge areas of key habitats have been lost to intensive agriculture and other development.
The UK has reportedly lost 97 percent of its wildflower meadows since the 1930s, gravely affecting the pollinating insects and animals that feed on the insects like birds, bats, hedgehogs etc.
However, though bees may get a lot of the attention when it comes to pollination, there's actually a whole array of insects that are involved in pollination. As a matter of fact, three-quarters of the world's flowering plants and about a third of the world's food crops depend on pollinators at some stage, states a report in NPR.
In addition, a report regarding the drastic decline of insect numbers that featured earlier in the Guardian mentions that the rate of extinction is eight times faster than that of mammals, birds and reptiles. Also, the total mass of insects is reported to be falling by a precipitous 2.5% a year, suggesting they could vanish within the next 100 years.
Kate Jones, a conservation officer at Buglife is reported to have said, “Although our countryside looks green and beautiful and vibrant, if there aren't many flowers it's quite a hostile environment for our insects to move across easily."
So, as an endeavor to restore wildflower meadows, Buglife has identified 150,000 hectares (580 square miles) of land across the UK. The conservation group hopes that these meadows can be connected to form a nationwide insect "commuter" network, called B-lines. The aim is to provide nectar-rich pit stops for pollinators, so that they wouldn’t have to travel vast distances through barren wilderness.
The floral “stepping stones” will be no more than 300 meters apart. Speaking about the reason for this, Robins explains that it is "based on the average commuting distance of a solitary bee, to make sure they can move from site to site."
So far, B-lines have restored just over 2,500 hectares of wildflower-rich grasslands in the network. This is only a small percentage of the 150,000 hectares that is the target. Also, restoring wildflowers can be a difficult task.
Another challenge of the project is that the network winds through public and private land in both the countryside and urban areas.
To deal with this, the project has enlisted the help of wildlife trusts, local authorities and farmers and estate owners.
Robins told CNN that Buglife will be providing the farmers and landowners with guidance with regard to the wildflowers. "They're the ones who can really make a difference. They can give up small areas of their land to wildflowers and restore the habitat that they have," he said.
Claire Carvell, a senior ecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology believes planting wildflower-rich hedgerows and grasslands not only helps insects, but farmers as well. She is reported to have said, "We have plenty of evidence that farmers are benefiting from managing their land in a way that's positive for bees, for flies and also all the predatory insects or the insects that are providing almost a natural pest control service to their crops."
The B-lines project is funded in part by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, which began in 2011. Buglife is reported to have mapped out the best connections between existing wildflower sites across the UK and created the first nationwide B-lines map by using software developed by the University of Washington. This was launched in March 2021.
Urging the public to get involved by adding their own wildflower habitats onto the B-lines map through the Buglife's website, Jones says, whether it's a flower-filled garden or a wildflower plant pot by the window, pollinators and insects will be able to enjoy it.
A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for rape, attempted rape and firearm offences following a Metropolitan Police investigation in west London.
Navroop Singh, of Mellow Lane East, Hayes, was convicted of five charges including rape and was sentenced on Friday, July 4 at Isleworth Crown Court. He must serve a minimum of 14 years.
Singh was found guilty of attempting to rape a woman in Southall Park, Ealing, on October 13, 2024. He was also convicted of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to three further charges: possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, rape of a girl under 13, and assault of a girl under 13 by penetration. These charges relate to the rape of a child at Hayes End Park, Hillingdon, on October 23, 2024.
Police launched an investigation following the attempted rape report in Ealing. Officers gathered evidence including CCTV footage, witness accounts and forensic material. The woman had approached two off-duty officers near the park gates, who helped her reach a police station.
Detectives linked the Ealing incident to the rape of a child ten days later. They increased patrols, distributed leaflets in the area, and traced Singh to a location near his home. He was arrested on 27 October.
Acting Chief Superintendent Sean Lynch said: “I would like to commend the strength of the victim-survivors and their families and thank them for their unwavering bravery in reporting these awful incidents to us.
“Today’s conviction is testament to the officers’ thorough investigation, which has identified a violent sexual offender and undoubtedly prevented further harm.
“We are continuing to prioritise tackling violence against women and girls with our increased specialist teams. I hope that the community will find reassurance in our action to put this predator behind bars.”
Specialist officers supported both victims during the investigation and trial.
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'The 100 Club offers a powerful way to support and scale-up this work,' said the organisers.
LEPRA launched its first high-value giving network, the 100 Club, on June 26. The event was held at Quilon Restaurant in London and brought together philanthropists, business leaders and supporters of the charity’s work.
The event was hosted by Kalpesh Solanki, Group Managing Editor of Asian Media Group and President of the 100 Club. Remarks were delivered by Lepra’s Chair of Trustees Suzanne McCarthy and CEO Jimmy Innes, who spoke about the organisation’s ASPIRE project.
The project focuses on identifying undiagnosed cases of leprosy and lymphatic filariasis through community-based healthcare.
“The 100 Club offers a powerful way to support and scale-up this work,” said the organisers.
The event was hosted by Kalpesh Solanki, Group Managing Editor of Asian Media Group and President of the 100 Club.
The initiative features three membership levels and includes special recognition for founding members who join in 2025.
Lepra’s case-finding strategy involves door-to-door screening by trained teams, who identify symptoms and refer individuals for diagnosis and free multidrug therapy (MDT) treatment.
The charity said this approach has detected up to 300 per cent more leprosy cases compared to traditional methods, while using fewer human resources and reducing costs.
According to Lepra, the case detection programme costs £1 million annually and reached 61,215 people last year.
Currently, one in four families with children under five do not have access to local children’s centres or Family Hubs. (Representational image: iStock)
THE UK government has announced the nationwide rollout of Best Start Family Hubs across every local authority, aiming to support 500,000 more children by 2028.
The hubs are intended to offer easier access to family services and reduce pressure on parents.
Nationwide rollout and funding
Currently, one in four families with children under five do not have access to local children’s centres or Family Hubs.
The new initiative, backed by over £500 million, will create up to 1,000 hubs by the end of 2028, with all local authorities expected to have a hub by April 2026.
Areas including Warrington, Leeds, Reading, and Somerset are among those to gain access.
The hubs will provide services such as early language support, parenting sessions, housing advice, breastfeeding support, mental health services, and debt and welfare guidance.
A new digital platform will also be launched to connect parents with local hubs and the NHS App.
Quotes from ministers and organisations
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “It’s the driving mission of this government to break the link between a child’s background and what they go on to achieve – our new Best Start Family Hubs will put the first building blocks of better life chances in place for more children.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “By bringing together early support services and investing £500 million in children’s development, we’re taking preventative action that will improve lives and reduce pressure on the NHS – a key part of our 10 Year Health Plan.”
Anna Feuchtwang, CEO of the National Children’s Bureau, said: “The Prime Minister’s Plan for Change set out his ambition to improve outcomes in early childhood. Now the government has put its money where its mouth is and committed to rolling out Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority.”
TWO brothers accused of assaulting a man inside a Starbucks and later attacking police officers at Manchester Airport are standing trial, with the prosecution arguing they used "unlawful and extreme violence".
Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and his older brother Muhammad Amaad, 26, both from Rochdale, are said to have acted aggressively on July 23 last year while at the airport to pick up their mother, who had arrived on a flight from Qatar.
The pair deny the charges and claim they were defending themselves.
Liverpool Crown Court heard the trouble started when their mother, shortly after landing, pointed out a man she had an issue with - Abdulkareem Ismaeil - who was inside a Starbucks café with his family.
Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC said the younger brother, Amaaz, approached Ismaeil, shouted at him, then headbutted and punched him in front of his children.
Starbucks manager Cameron Cartledge said he heard loud voices and saw a man in a blue tracksuit—later identified as Amaaz—arguing closely with another man.
"Blue tracksuit man seemed quite aggressive. He got in the man’s face and shouted. Then he headbutted him, which made him stumble back," said Cartledge, adding that he called police immediately.
Another witness, barista Justine Pakalne, said the violence came from Amaaz, not Ismaeil. "Even if the other man stepped forward, he didn’t touch him. It was Amaaz who headbutted him," she said.
After the café incident, police officers found the brothers near the car park payment area of Terminal 2. According to Greaney, three officers - PCs Zachary Marsden, Ellie Cook, and Lydia Ward - approached to arrest Amaaz. When they did, he resisted and Amaad stepped in.
The court heard that both brothers attacked PC Marsden. Amaaz is also accused of assaulting PC Cook and breaking PC Ward’s nose during the struggle.
"The level of violence was very high," said Greaney. "Amaaz held PC Marsden by the neck, pulling him to the ground. PC Marsden managed to break free and later kicked Amaaz in the face to protect himself."
The prosecution acknowledged that the officer’s actions might appear “shocking” in isolation but argued they must be seen in the context of an armed officer facing a serious threat. "This happened in a busy airport where officers feared their weapons could be taken," Greaney said.
CCTV and police bodycam footage were shown to jurors, showing the incident unfold.
The defence claims both men acted in self-defence. However, Greaney dismissed that argument: "What the footage shows is not defensive behaviour, but offensive and violent conduct."
The court also heard that Ismaeil declined to give a police statement and is not part of the trial.
Both defendants deny all charges. The trial will continue on Monday (7).
THE seven-year prison sentence handed to a 15-year-old boy convicted of the manslaughter of 80-year-old Bhim Sen Kohli is to be reviewed under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.
The boy, who cannot be named due to legal restrictions, was found guilty of carrying out an "unprovoked" attack on Kohli as he walked his dog in a park in Leicester, eastern England, in September last year.
The review follows a detailed assessment by Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP to determine whether the case met the threshold for referral.
“The Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP, was appalled by this violent, cowardly attack on an innocent man. She wishes to express her deepest sympathies to Bhim Kohli’s friends and family at this difficult time,” said a spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office.
“After a detailed review of the case, the Solicitor General concluded the sentence of the 15-year-old could be referred to the Court of Appeal. The court will now determine whether the sentence should be increased.”
A 13-year-old girl, who was also convicted of manslaughter for her role in the attack, avoided a custodial sentence. She had filmed the assault while laughing and encouraging the boy, the court heard.
At a sentencing hearing on June 5 at Leicester Crown Court, Justice Mark Turner described the attack as “wicked”. He said he was legally bound to consider the defendants’ ages.
The boy, referred to as D1, was convicted of physically assaulting Kohli, while the girl, referred to as D2, received a three-year youth rehabilitation order with a six-month curfew.
Addressing the girl in court, Justice Turner said that a custodial sentence would likely cause “more harm than good”. It is understood that her sentence will not be referred for review as it did not meet the legal threshold.
During the trial, the court was told that Kohli had been racially abused and repeatedly punched and kicked. His daughter, Susan Kohli, found him lying on the ground after the attack.
“They chose to attack a defenceless pensioner and for that I cannot give them any of my sympathy,” she said after the sentencing.
Kelly Matthews, senior district crown prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, called the incident “tragic” and said it had deeply affected the Leicester community and beyond.
“Kohli set out to walk his dog in his local park, as he did every day, but lost his life in what followed,” she said.