1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
1. To help conserve pollinators and support the services they provide to the farming sector.
2. To bring nature closer to people.
3. To link existing wildlife areas together, creating a network that will weave across the British landscape.
4. To provide large areas of brand new habitat benefiting bees and butterflies as well as a host of other wildlife.
5. The aim of the second phase of this project – which ran from September 2018 to June 2019 – was to create at least 25 pollinator ‘hubs’ along the John Muir Way, building on work carried out in previous years and increasing the amount of wildflower habitat available to boost pollinator populations in Central Scotland. [ref 3, 4]
2. To bring nature closer to people.
3. To link existing wildlife areas together, creating a network that will weave across the British landscape.
4. To provide large areas of brand new habitat benefiting bees and butterflies as well as a host of other wildlife.
5. The aim of the second phase of this project – which ran from September 2018 to June 2019 – was to create at least 25 pollinator ‘hubs’ along the John Muir Way, building on work carried out in previous years and increasing the amount of wildflower habitat available to boost pollinator populations in Central Scotland. [ref 3, 4]
Quantitative targets
1. Improving habitat along a 215km long-distance path, 2. to create and restore at least 150,000 hectares (ha) of wildflower-rich habitat stepping stones across the UK [ref 3]
Monitoring indicators defined
It is likely that the John Muir Pollinator Way has generated benefits across the social, ecological and economic domains. However, this has not been formally monitored. It is the intention for Buglife volunteers to engage in future monitoring. This will focus on assessing the variety of plants growing in the grassland habitats. In addition, schools which received an education pack will be asked about (their experience of) activities undertaken, learning outcomes and additional support needs. Schools that have been involved in habitat creation will also be asked about their interest in on-going involvement in site maintenance. [ref 1]
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Implementation activities
Broadly three project phases can be identified in the development of the John Muir Pollinator Way, each of which has received funding from a different source. In the first phase, like with all B-Line projects, mapping of the insect ‘pathway’ took place. Pollinator habitats, as well as areas suitable for habitat creation and/or improvement, were mapped, using aerial photography and maps. In the second phase, Buglife and the by Central Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT) worked with local authorities, Friends of Parks groups and other partners in order to restore 19 sites, mainly local authority owned. This was done by seeding wildflowers and putting in plug plants. At the same time, the project also ran through a third phase which was about public engagement and outreach using workshops and field trips. A school pack was created "Planting for Pollinators Along the John Muir Way" as an educational resource. [ref 1]
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify system innovation
The John Muir Pollinator Way – and the B-Lines project more broadly – have the potential to contribute to a system innovation. It would do so by transforming green spaces across local authority boundaries in a way which would make them more attractive to both visitors and wildlife, while also offering benefits to the farming community. By engaging the general public and schools within a 3 km strip of land along either side of the route, institutions and citizens are also predicted to engage in future actions (e.g., planting wildflowers) supporting pollinator biodiversity without a direct steer by the project’s coordinators. [1]
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The John Muir Pollinator Way is a project initiated by Buglife, an NGO that aims to contribute to the conservation of invertebrate species. Buglife Scotland took direct inspiration from the B-Lines project carried out by Buglife branches in other parts of the UK, which is about creating linear ‘pathways’ for pollinators through the provision of wildflower-rich habitat stepping stones. These stepping stones are placed strategically on a linear line connecting habitats, resulting in a network that weaves across the British landscape. [1]
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
The project, along with related Buglife pilot projects in Scotland (e.g., Falkirk Pollinator Way, Bridgeness Biodiversity in Bo’ness ), already acted as inspiration for other initiatives in Scotland (e.g. pollinator meadow proposals by Scottish Borders and West Lothian local authorities). SNH has also, together with Falkirk Council and Scottish Canals, funded a spin-off project – Falkirk’s Pollinator Way – which is about turning amenity grassland into grassland meadows across this town which is straddled along the John Muir Way. It may inspire private landowners to follow suit as well. As a result, more money is becoming available to further improve and expand the B-Lines network in Scotland. Moreover, the Scottish Government also intends to invest in pollinators; they would like to fund 25 projects along the John Muir Way as a show of support for the Central Scotland Green Network . [1]
