Wakehurst in Sussex has announced ‘The Buzz About Trees’, an innovative new study that harnesses cutting-edge bioacoustics technology to monitor bee abundance. With wild bee populations in decline, scientists at Kew’s wild botanic garden are investigating which trees and plants best support pollinators, offering vital insights that could transform urban biodiversity.
Marking a major new step for Kew’s pollination research, scientists have installed state-of-the-art bioacoustics monitors in Wakehurst’s trees. These non-invasive monitors combine acoustics technology and environmental sensors to listen for the buzz of bees’ wing beats interpreting the sound into heat maps, providing crucial ecological data for the scientists.
The study forms part of Wakehurst’s Nature Unlocked research programme, which sees the landscape transform into a living laboratory, as scientists use the diverse habitats to explore the value of biodiversity. With a smaller footprint than wildflower meadows, trees could provide extensive benefits to pollinators in towns and cities and with this data, scientists can help populations of critical bees, wasps and more across the country to thrive.
Eight trees were selected to house the Agrisound monitors, with Wakehurst’s Arboretum team skilfully installing three monitors per tree, alongside solar panels to power each piece of equipment. The trees selected are mix of native and non-native species and include Horse chestnuts (Aesculus genus) and lime trees (Tilia), which were selected because of their known benefits to pollinators.
Pollination Research Lead, Dr Janine Griffiths-Lee, commented:
“By using bioacoustics monitors, we can capture invaluable data on pollinator activity in ways never before possible. This technology allows us to listen in on the hidden world of bumblebees, helping us understand which trees support the highest abundance. Our findings will be key to creating greener urban spaces that provide a future for our wildlife.”
This revolutionary new method of monitoring Wakehurst’s bumblebee population will supplement the existing Trees for Bees citizen science trail. A total of 41 trees have been selected to be part of a wider ‘bee safari’, which asks visitors to count the number of pollinators they see buzzing around the trees. The data collected then goes straight to the scientists, who will be looking for any correlations with the data captured on the bioacoustics monitors.
ENDS
For more information and images, please contact wakehurstpr@kew.org.
Notes to Editors
Bioacoustics project funded by Legal and General.
About Wakehurst
Wakehurst is Kew’s wild botanic garden in the Sussex High Weald National Landscape. Its ancient and beautiful landscapes span 535 acres and are a place for escape, exploration, tranquility, and wonder. Its diverse collection of plants from Britain and around the globe thrive within a tapestry of innovative gardens, temperate woodlands, meadows, and wetlands. Wakehurst is a centre for UK biodiversity and global conservation, seed research and ecosystem science. At its heart is Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, the world’s largest store of seeds from wild plant species.
The National Trust was bequeathed the Mansion and grounds of Wakehurst in 1963. Whilst Wakehurst is not a National Trust property, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has a longstanding relationship with the National Trust dating back to 1965 when Kew took over the running of Wakehurst’s 535 acres of botanical landscapes and Elizabethan Mansion.
RBG Kew receives approximately one third of its funding from Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils. Further funding needed to support RBG Kew’s vital work comes from donors, membership and commercial activity including ticket sales. In the first six months since implementing a new accessibility scheme for those in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Legacy Benefits, Kew has welcomed over 100,000 visitors with £1 tickets.
At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, we’re dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to end the extinction crisis and secure a future for all life on Earth. With our world-leading research, global partnerships and beloved gardens – home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi – we’re using our trusted voice to shape policy and practice worldwide. As a charity we rely on the critical support of our visitors, not only to sustain the gardens, but to protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of our planet and humanity.