A University of Cumbria student has been collaborating with Cumberland Council's Green Spaces Team and students from a Carlisle school to study grass.
As part of their research, Bryony Hawkes a zoology student from the University of Cumbria, has been examining how long grass affects insects in Carlisle, compared to short grass.
Class 5 students from St Bede’s Catholic Primary School were informed about the creepy crawlies in Heysham Park before the summer break. Bryony and Doctor Alex Dittrich, Senior Lecturer Zoology from Nottingham Trent University, who specialises in insects and science communication, went to the long grass in Heysham Park.
Among the insects found by Carlisle students were soldier beetles, woodlice, worms, butterflies (small white and meadow brown were in abundance), moths, caterpillars, ladybirds (the 14 spotted ladybird were popular with the children), leaf hoppers, and shieldbugs along with numerous other beetles, bees and flies.
In comparison to mowed lawns, long grass is more beneficial to insects, which are the foundation of much of our wildlife.
Councillor Bob Kelly, Cumberland Council’s Executive Portfolio Holder for Cumberland Policy and Regulatory Services, said:
“In my experience as a retired teacher, open-air classes are an excellent way for students to engage with the environment and have constructive discussions, as well as get interested in our surroundings from an early age.
“Despite the fact that short grass may appear neat and tidy - it's what many of us have grown up with - long grass has so many benefits for wildlife. Short grass provides not much in comparison. When the grass grows long, it creates a variety of 'microhabitats' for wildlife to inhabit. Basically, long grass means more space and structure for a greater diversity of insects and other arthropods.”
Bryony Hawkes, the zoology student from the University of Cumbria, added: “The children were incredibly enthusiastic and inquisitive! On chatting with them in the smaller groups it's clear that they perceive the grasslands in a positive way.”
Michael Oliver, a teacher from St Bede’s Catholic Primary, said: “The children really enjoyed hunting for bugs. It was great to see them finding so many and learning new names for them. So, a big thank you for inviting us and to Alex and Bryony.”
Doctor Alex Dittrich, Senior Lecturer Zoology from Nottingham Trent University, added:
“Getting people involved in this kind of work as early as possible is so important. These children will be looking after the planet in the future, so building a positive relationship with nature is important when they are young. What we saw here, is with slightly relaxed management of a grassland, we can create an amazing resource not only for – our sadly dwindling – insect populations, but also a great space for children to learn and play, to understand about the diversity of life on earth they will be protecting for years to come”.
To find out more about outreach programmes and long and short grasses, please visit the Cumberland Council website.