About this Project

Here’s a list of the types of research that we will be conducting at the sites

• Observational surveys: about once a week (depending on weather conditions) you’ll see a researcher looking at the patch and counting insects for ten minutes, or counting the number of flowers in bloom.

• Pan traps: occasionally, you will see pan traps in the site, which are yellow, blue or white dishes containing water and a small amount of detergent (liquid soap) in which insects are trapped. Pan traps are part of the EU Pollinator Monitoring Scheme , and studies have shown that they do not have any negative effects on insect populations

• Measuring flower scent: pollution can degrade the scents flowers release to attract pollinators, so we will occasionally be collecting the scent for analysis, by placing a cup over flower heads.

• Pollen and nectar collection: we will occasionally collect nectar and pollen from the flowers for analysis, to see how these are being affected by pollution.

Thank you very much to Sheffield City Council for all their help and to Amey PLC for installing the wildflower turf and signage.

This patch of wildflower turf was supplied by Tiller’s Turf, and includes 27 native UK wildflower species. You probably won’t see all of them in one patch, and some flower later or earlier in the season.

Birdsfoot trefoil

Black knapweed

Black medick

Bladder campion

Bulbous buttercup

Common toadflax

Corn chamomile

Cornflower

Cowslip

Devils bit scabious

Field poppy

Field scabious