Formica Rufa
Conservation & Restoration Project
Colonies being raised:
46
Date of Project start:
March 2024
Formica rufa is a fantastic species who holds the key to pine and spruce forests in the UK. Without them, the natural world order around them crumbles. We need to help restore them without delay.
Help Us Save the Wood Ants and Restore Our Ecosystem
The wood ant (Formica rufa) plays a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of our ecosystems. These incredible insects are not just another ant species – they are keystone creatures upon which many other species depend. From mosses to birds and even other invertebrates, wood ants are the foundation of life for many organisms. Without them, as we’ve seen in areas like plantations, landscapes change dramatically, leading to a loss of biodiversity and a weakening of the natural world.
But the situation is urgent. Native populations of the wood ant are now classified as near threatened on the red-list for conservation. Their numbers are declining rapidly, and with them, we are losing entire ecosystems that rely on their presence.
The wood ant is facing a crisis – but together, we can change that.
Project Timeline
March 2024
September 2025
September 2027
After extensive research the project has started. We stocked 60 colonies (46 are being raised for the projects, while 14 are for customer sale). The colonies sold will go towards funding this project. Expenses are currently at around £90 per week in feeding and labour for the colonies.
We plan on releasing the colonies into the wild and we can name them with stakes when placed. Customers can follow along with their sponsored colony when the sponsorships are released. Our costs for 40 colonies with 200 miles weekly and feeds weekly is around £240 including fuel.
After 12 months of supplementary feeds and a further 12 months of monitoring the colonies should be established enough to continue growing without weekly assistance.
Our Mission to Restore Wood Ant Populations
Ant Antics Ltd is proud to be working alongside Dr. Wendy Harris at Swansea University to tackle this crisis head-on. We are raising 40 wood ant colonies, with the goal of reintroducing them into areas where native populations are struggling to survive.
These ants are not just being raised and released – they are being carefully nurtured to ensure they thrive in the wild, with ongoing support for a full 12 months after release.
But this ambitious project comes with significant costs. It’s not just about raising the ants; it’s about safeguarding them during their critical transition back into nature. Every week, we invest in staff wages (£95 per week) to care for these colonies. After their release, we will provide supplemental food and care, involving over 10 hours and 200 miles of travel every single week for a year.
This care is essential for ensuring their successful re-establishment in the wild.
How You Can Help Save the Wood Ants?
The future of these ants and the ecosystems they support depends on the kindness and generosity of people like you. By donating to our project, you are directly contributing to the preservation of a species that has a profound impact on our natural world.
Your support will go towards:
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Weekly care and raising of 40 wood ant colonies
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Fuel and travel costs for maintaining their care post-release
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Supplemental feeding to ensure their survival in the wild
Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference. By joining our cause, you become a part of the solution to restore the balance in our ecosystems and give the wood ant and the species that depend on them a fighting chance.
Support Us Today
We can’t do this alone. Your support will not only help us raise and care for these wood ants but will also contribute to the restoration of entire ecosystems that have been drastically affected by their decline. Please consider donating today, and help us give these extraordinary creatures the future they deserve.
Together, we can bring the wood ants back to our landscapes and ensure a thriving environment for all species that rely on them.
Donate Now and Help Save the Wood Ants and Protect Our Ecosystems
Make a donation
Thank you for your generosity and for taking the time to spare a few pounds on helping us continue raising our colonies for release. Your support has not gone unnoticed and you are a true part of our work.
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