Allotment Biodiversity

Introduction

  • estimated 330,000 allotments in England
  • represent significant sanctuary for plants and animals
  • provide mosaic of different habitats – disturbed ground, semi-permanent uncultivated areas etc.

Method

  • observations 2019-2021 on one allotment in Stapleford (7m x 40m)
  • includes uncultivated bramble and nettle patches with wetter dips
  • well drained loam with underlying chalk marl

Results

  • more than 100 species documented (see below)
  • over 50 plant, 13 beetle and 16 Lepidoptera species found
  • wide range of taxa noted

Conclusions

  • observations support the importance of allotments for biodiversity
  • allotments act as a refuge for wildlife
  • wide range of taxa provide significant learning opportunity

Species list

Annelida – Common Earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)

Arachida – Common Harvestman (Phalangium opilio), Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus), Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi), Wolf Spider (Pardosa amentata)

Wasp Spider

Coleoptera – Asparagus Beetle (Crioceris asparagi), Cabbage-stem flea Beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala), Click Beetle/wireworm (Agriotes sputator), Devil’s coach horse (Staphylinies olens), Ground Beetle (Carabus nemoralis), Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis), Pollen Beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus), Rosemary Beetle (Chrysolina americana), Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva), Thick-thighed Green Beetle (Oedemera nobilis), Violet Ground Beetle (Carabus violaceus), 7-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata), 22-spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata)

Dermaptera – Common Earwig (Forficula auricularia)

Diptera – Bee Fly (Bombylius major), Cabbage Root Fly (Delia radicum), Carrot Fly (Psila rosae), Common Crane Fly (Tipula oleracea), Flesh Fly (Sarcophage crnaria), Greenbottle (Lucilia caesar), Marmalade Hover Fly (Episyrphus balteatus), Pelucid Hoverfly (Volucella pellucens), Saint Mark’s Fly (Bibio Marcia)

Hemiptera – Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina), Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)

Shield Bug

Hymenoptera

Bees – Buff-tailed (Bombus terrestris), Honey (Apis mellifera), Ivy (Colletes hederae), Mining (Andrena fulva), White-tailed (Bombus lucorum)

IchneumonIchneumon stramentor (moth parasite)

Ichneumon Fly

Wasp – Common (Vespa vulgais), German (Vespa germanica), Hornet (Vespa crabo)

Ants – Black Garden Ant (Lasius niger), Yellow Meadow Ant (Lasius flavus)

Sawfly – Gooseberry(Nematus ribesii)

Lepidoptera – Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), 6-spot Burnet Moth (Zygaena filipendulae), Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae), Comma (Polygonia c-album), Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus), Large White (Pieris brassicae), White Plume Moth (Pterophorus pentadactyla), Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata), Pea Moth (Cydia nigricana), Peacock (Aglais io), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus), Silver Y Moth (Autographa gamma), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)

Mollusca – Brown slug (Arion ater), Brown lipped snail (Cepaea nemoralis), Common Keeled Slug (Tandonia budapestensis), Garden snail (Cornu aspersum), Leopard Slug (Limax maximus), Grey Field Slug (Deroceras reticulatum)

Leopard Slug
Brown Slug

Mammalia – Wood Mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)

Mecoptera – Scorpionfly (Panorpa communis)

Myriopoda – Common Centipede (Lithobius forficatus), Pill Bug (Glomeris marginata), White-legged Millipede (Tachypodoiulus niger)

Neuroptera – Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea)

Odonata – Blue Banded Damselfly (Calopteryx splendens)

Angiosperms

Cranesbill

Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum), Bramble (Rubus fruticosus), Bristly Oxtongue (Picris echioides), Bulbous Buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus), Caper Spurge (Euphorbia lathyris), Chickweed (Stellaria media), Cleavers (Galium aparine), Common Field Speedwell (Veronica persica), Common Vetch (Vicia sativa), Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense), Daisy (Bellis perennis), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.), Dog’s Mercury (Mercurialis perennis), Fat Hen (Chenopodium album), Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), Field Madder (Sherardia arvensis), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens), Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), Hedgerow Cranesbill (Geranium pyrenaicum), Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba), Hop (Humulus lupulus), Large Bindweed (Calystegia sylvatica), Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna), Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Marjoram (Origanum vulgare), Nettle (Urtica dioica), Nipplewort (Lapsana communis), Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), Red Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum), Red Goosefoot (Chenopodium rubrum), Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), Small-flowered Cranesbill (Geranium pusillum), Smooth Hawksbeard (Crepis capillaris), Smooth Sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus), Sun Spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia), Sweet Violet (Viola odorata), Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), Viper’s Bugloss (Echium vulgare), White Deadnettle (Lamium album), Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica)

Red Deadnettle

Equisitales – Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

Poacea – Common Bent (Agrostis capillaris), Couch (Elymus repens), False Oat (Arrhenatherum elatius), Poa trivialis, Wall Barley (Hordeum murinum)

Cyperacea – Pendulous Sedge (Carex pendula)

Fungi – Puccinia lagenophorae (Orange Ragwort Rust)