Coronavirus may prove boost for UK's bees and rare wildflowers

Populations could recover as verges are left uncut, setting what conservationists hope will be a long-term trend

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Rare wildflowers and declining bee populations could start to recover during the coronavirus lockdown because many councils are leaving roadside verges uncut, according to Europe's biggest conservation charity for wild plants.

The respite for these mini-meadows is likely to lead to an explosion of colour in the countryside this summer and bring benefits to other pollinators, including butterflies, birds and bats, botanists at Plantlife said.