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Edinburgh Pollinator and Habitat Surveys Report (2025)

Authors: Balfour, Nicholas; Caitlyn, Johnstone; Bush, Emma;

Edinburgh Pollinator and Habitat Surveys Report (2025)

Abstract

Urbanisation significantly impacts the presence, abundance, and distribution of pollinators worldwide. However, cities with ecologically healthy green spaces can play a significant role in supporting pollinator populations, acting as potential habitat refugia and offering diverse and continuous pollinator resources throughout the year. In 2025, 31 green spaces in central Edinburgh, including allotments, public gardens, cemeteries and roof gardens, were surveyed to assess pollinator diversity and resource availability. Our findings reveal a generalist pollinator community dominated by bumble bees (45%) and honey bees (26%). By contrast, butterflies, moths, and beetles were notably scarce. However, semi-natural areas, allotments, and cemeteries sustained significant pollinator diversity, which was likely driven by the prevalence of indigenous vegetation and rich floral diversity recorded at these sites. The plant community in central Edinburgh was primarily comprised of exotic horticultural species, with two-thirds of observed species being non-native. Despite this, the vast majority (87%) of plants recorded were visited by pollinators. Notably, the three plant species found to attract the widest range of pollinator taxa were all indigenous. As cities continue to densify and expand, these findings emphasize that well connected greenspaces featuring diverse plant communities and indigenous flora are critical components of the green infrastructure necessary to sustain urban pollinator biodiversity.

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