Pollinator Farm Walk & Lunch

Explore Honeydale Farm on an inspiring and informative pollinator themed farm walk, led by Conservationist, Nick Patel. 

Boosting pollinators in an agricultural landscape is essential for our countryside’s future. Not just for the benefit of the farming systems, but to help boost our native insect life (and the food chain as a result).

Pollinators come in many forms, from Butterflies to Bees, Beetles to Moths, Hoverflies and even wasps and flies.

Not only are our pollinators great for ‘pollinating’ arable crops, they provide a great service for the native wildflowers in neighbouring hedgerows, woodlands, wetlands and headlands.Not to mention farmland insects are a great food source for predators in the landscape, i.e. birdlife, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

Common species which come to mind when thinking of pollinators in the farmland setting include, Peacock, Small tortoiseshell, Green veined white, Buff-tailed bumblebee, various Hoverflies.However more interesting species you might find amongst a more regenerative setting include Common blue, Ruby-tailed wasp, Garden chafer, Hornet hoverfly, White-letter hairstreak, Marbled white, Silver Y moth.

There are many ways that a farming landscape can improve habitats for pollinators, other than reducing pesticide use. Allowing arable wildflowers to grow between crops is vitally important. Creating and maintaining rich and diverse marginal habitat around farmland is essential for not only breeding but feeding invertebrates.

'During June at FarmED, as the wildflowers are coming into their optimum blooms, now is the best time to look out for some of our most unique and interesting Pollinator species,' says Nick. 

At the end of the walk there’ll be a delicious and nutritious lunch freshly prepared in the FarmED kitchen. Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful landscape.

Arrive for 11:00

Farm walk 11.15 – 13.00

Picnic lunch 13.00 

Suitable for all ages. Bring binoculars if you have some and make sure to wear sturdy footwear for walking around the farm.

Nick Patel, Biography

For the past four years Nick has been warden at Moore Nature Reserve in Cheshire. A reclaimed quarry site with reed bed systems, wet wood habits and wildflower meadows, it’s part of the mitigation for a neighbouring waste site. Nick trained at various RSPB reserves and is particularly passionate about wetland habitats, wildflower meadows, grasslands and how regenerative farming can help to change perceptions about what farmers can do to make space for nature.