The results of our 2008 Important Arable Plant Areas of Bedfordshire survey are in. The survey found six more nationally important sites, bringing our total to 13, including one internationally important site!

Arable plants are the most critically threatened group of plants in the UK. They grow in and around farm fields and for years were treated as weeds. Now many of them are extremely rare.

Results of the study will be used on the ground to target good management practices where they have the most benefit.

Field madder Sherardia arvensis. Photo by Sarah Gregg

The Nude Ewe project is selling wool spun from Bedfordshire's own conservation grazing flocks. Proceeds go towards the Wildlife Trust's grazing programme.

By munching the bramble, shrubs and other rough vegetation, grazing flocks maintain our meadow and heathland habitats. Without these natural lawnmowers our beautiful grassy hills and fields would turn to scrub.

So support our meadows: visit The Nude Ewe website and knit up your own piece of Bedfordshire!

The hairy-footed flower bee isn't a bumblebee, even though it might look like one. It's actually a species of solitary bee, sometimes called a masonry bee. Unlike bumblebees which live in colonies, solitary bees live alone. The hairy-footed flower bee nests in tunnels dug in steep soil banks or sometimes in crumbling old masonry.

The ginger coloured male hairy-footed flower bee emerges first in early spring. The all black female follows a couple of weeks later. The hairy legs for which the species is named are most easily visible on the female. If you look closely you can see the orange hairs on the middle pair of legs - but don't mistake her yellow pollen baskets for them!

These bees rarely sting but do be careful if you are trying to get a close-up look.

Hairy footed flower bees do display some flower preference. They can often be found on primroses, cowslips and white deadnettle. They especially like lungwort. They can be territorial, and may be seen chasing other insects away from their patch!

Photos: top (male) & bottom (female; note the orange leg hairs), Nigel Jones;

middle (male in flight), Laurence Livermore

'bio' = 'life'

'diversity' = 'variety'

So biodiversity = the variety of life on earth: all the different species, habitats, ecosystems and genes that make up the natural world. Every creature - including humans - depends on others for survival. That's why biodiversity is so important!

To find out more check out the DaVersity Code and watch Robert Penguin and Sophie Minnow try to solve a murder at the Natural History Museum!

What does this mean? It means that we - along with hundreds of agencies in Europe and around the world - are working hard to conserve and enhance our local habitats and species. It's a big job and we can't do it alone. Find out what you can do to help us out!