Fjärilskullarna Lillestad

Due to the current way of farming the landscape, hundreds of pollinating species have been disadvantaged to such an extent that they have been red-listed*. That is why Växjö municipality is working to benefit pollinating insects, including at Fjärilskullarna at Lillestadskolan. We have created a habitat where the species can thrive and live. This is done by creating new structures where the insects can build nests and environments where the larvae and pupae can develop. Many species depend on disturbed environments with exposed sand. The sand is where insects dig their nests and lay their eggs. The hills are therefore ideal for playing, running and even cycling.

Insects are also heat-seeking animals, which means that hills can provide better exposure to the sun's warming rays. The mounds also keep the sand moving and not overgrown, which would destroy their ability to make their home. This is precisely why a full cover of vegetation is not sought at all.

Insects feed on a variety of plants that produce nectar and pollen. Different insects are adapted to different types of flowers for foraging and larval development, so it is very important that there is a variety of flora. Here at Fjärilskullarna we have invested in flowering meadow plants such as field bindweed, daisy, clover, bluebells, tar flowers and various fibroids. In the area we have also planted hawthorn, and favor willow, linden and maple as well as cherries that all have a rich flowering.

*Red-listed species: The red list is a list of species that are at risk of extinction for one reason or another. The risk of extinction depends on how much of the species remains in Sweden and how quickly it has declined over time. The main reasons why Swedish species are red-listed are the felling of old forests and trees and the overgrowth of meadows and pastures in the agricultural landscape.