News Archive |
We're into the FINAL!
Great News! We have reached the FINALS of a national awards scheme for the best environmental project! Many thanks to those of your that voted.
A camera crew visited us to put together a short video about our work. We filmed the filming... Check out the video below:
Watch this space for details of the final round of voting...
In other news
Could you spare a few pounds to sponsor the Flying Banana Bumblebee?
Adrian Wood is cycling from Land's End to John o'Groats to raise money for BBCT and would love to receive your support...
Sponsor the flying banana bumblebee!
The Garden and Leisure Group make us their Charity of the Year!
We are pleased to announce that the Garden & Leisure Group have adopted BBCT as their Charity of the Year 2010 across their seven UK stores!
They will be involving local residents and schoolchildren in raising awareness of the plight of bumblebees through fancy dress competitions, colouring competitions, in-store promotions, special seeds and plants for sale that are ‘Bee Friendly’, BBCT collections boxes, and lots of information for local bee lovers.
They are launching the BBCT as their charity on March 27th with BBC Presenter Toby Buckland at Cadbury Garden & Leisure, near Bristol.
For press enquiries, contact Jayne Warren, Garden & Leisure’s PR, Media & Press Officer on 01275 850900, M: 07770 444155. Email: jayne.warren@ontrac360.com
For quotes from BBCT staff, please email enquiries@bumblebeeconservation.org
Southern Invader Creates Border Buzz!
BBCT staff are buzzing with excitement at the discovery of a new bumblebee species for Scotland - the first for fifty years. The discovery comes as Scotland enters Scottish Environment Week, which brings together MSPs and environmentalists to celebrate Scotland's environment.
Photo by Nick Owens.
1400 years after the princess Æbbe fled north to Scotland and established a monastery at St Abbs, the Southern Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus vestalis) defied its name and followed suit, crossing the border not far from Humbleton Hill, in an area known for its historical cross-border incursions.
The bee was discovered at St Abbs (just north of Eyemouth, in Berwickshire) by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust's Conservation Officer for Scotland, Bob Dawson.
Bob commented: "It's hugely exciting to discover a new species for Scotland - I'm thrilled. Cuckoo bumblebees can be tricky to identify. They look superficially similar to other bumblebees - black with yellow stripes - but males of this species have distinctive antennae. Thankfully Murdo Macdonald from the Highland Biological Recording Group confirmed my suspicions."
Click here for an identification fact sheet
BBCT director, Ben Darvill, noted that a good news story was long overdue. "At a time when bumblebees up and down the UK are struggling due to a lack of flower-rich habitat, it is heartening to see that at least one species is expanding its range," he said. "Sadly many other species are threatened with national extinction, with Scotland's Great Yellow Bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus) in particular trouble. We very much hope it's not a case of 'One in, one out.'".
It is too early to say whether the Southern Cuckoo Bumblebee's arrival is due to climate change, but it seems likely.
Gardeners can make a significant difference to the plight of the bumblebee by growing the right kinds of flowers throughout the year - many fancy varieties are of little use to wildlife. Cottage garden plants and wild flowers are best. Click here for more information
We WON €30,000!
Voting has now closed on the Live for the Outdoors website in their competition to determine the most worthy eco-project. Great news - WE WON! A massive thank you to everyone who voted for us!
You can follow Pippa's work on the Bumblebee Habitat Project at her blog
Pembrokeshire Paradise... we need YOUR HELP!
We are hoping to win funding for a fantastic project to restore bumblebee habitat along the Pembrokeshire coast. By creating flower-rich areas along a new path, BBCT hope to support populations of the very rare shrill carder bee and other bumblebees, as well as providing habitat for a wide range of other invertebrates and birds.
None of this can happen without the votes of the public as the project is up against five others hoping to receive funding from the EOG Association for Conservation. The winner will be decided by the votes of visitors to the 'Live For The Outdoors' website and readers of Trail Magazine. To find out more and vote for this worthwhile project please visit the Live For The Outdoors website.
Voting starts from Wednesday 27th January and is open for only 10 days! VOTE NOW!
What we propose to do
We will create wildflower-rich habitat to support rare bumblebees along a new 10km path in the Pembrokeshire National Park. By connecting key sites, this attractive route through spectacular scenery will help prevent the national extinction of the shrill carder bee.
Why people should vote for us
This is a fantastic opportunity to help a really rare bumblebee and create a lovely place for a walk! Your vote will help us to introduce wildflowers along a new path through previously-restricted MoD land at Castlemartin and create wildflower-rich meadows nearby. This will provide essential bumblebee habitat and also create pretty places full of flowers, bees and butterflies for everyone to enjoy. We’ll be bringing extra colour and ‘buzz’ to beautiful Pembrokeshire! Bumblebees are vital to us as they pollinate many wildflowers and important crops, so it is imperative that we look after them. The project can make a real difference as Pembrokeshire supports many bumblebee species, including the very rare shrill carder bee (a handsome little bumblebee with a high-pitched buzz!). Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Countryside Council for Wales and the MoD have already offered to support this exciting project if we can find funding. So please vote for the bumbles - click here, NOW!
Or depending on your browser setting you may be able to vote below:
You can follow the Shrill Carder conservation work on Pippa's blog
Pippa the film star!
A wonderful video of a recent talk about bee declines given by Dr. Pippa Rayner, our Conservation Officer (England and Wales). The talk was given at the 'Wildlife Sightings' event to the Pembrokeshire Marine Code Group and the Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter Group. We very much hope that we have been successful in encouraging sympathetic management in this important area. The Shrill Carder Bee (along with other UKBAP bumblebee species) is thriving in parts of Pembrokeshire due to wonderful species-rich grasslands.
The Plight of the Bumblebee from Tom Luddington on Vimeo.
You can follow Pippa's work on the Bumblebee Habitat Project at her blog
Bumblebee Socks - the perfect gift!
Declining bumblebees throught the UK will be helped by the sale of these trendy socks.
The stripey socks are being sold by MandMDirect.com, with St Trinian's actress Tamsin Egerton adding her support to the campaign. 100% of profits go to BBCT.
A pack of three pairs (pictured) is only £9.99 - a snip!
We think they look rather good!
Please support us, warm your feet, and become the envy of your friends by buying some today!
Visit www.mandmdirect.com for more information.
A Bumper Year for the Great Yellow
The Great Yellow Bumblebee, one of Britain’s rarest bee species, has bucked recent gloomy trends and had a bumper summer in Scotland this year. BBCT have been involved in a project to try to save the species (more info...) and hope that this is the start of good times ahead for the Great Yellow.
The Great Yellow was once widespread throughout the UK, but as agricultural practices became more intensive, the lights started to go out for the bee. This left the far north and west of Scotland as the last refuge for this beautiful and charismatic species. However, after a couple of poor years, 2009 has finally provided cause for cautious optimism. Very good numbers of the Great Yellow Bumblebee have been recorded this year in Orkney and in north Highland, the last UK mainland population.
It is not too late to spot the species this year, and areas with knapweed, one of their favourite flowers, are good places to look. It’s a distinctive creature, golden-yellow with a signature band of black fur between the wings (see photo). If you think you see one, take a photo, and send it in gyb@bumblebeeconservation.org.
As well as doing well in most of its known haunts, the Great Yellow has been discovered nesting further south on the UK mainland this year than it has in nearly 30 years. This discovery, near Lybster, on the east Caithness coast, was made by our Scottish Conservation Officer, Bob Dawson, who said:
“This is a modest, but significant extension of the known range southwards. We suspect that the Great Yellow Bumblebee may have been present in this area before, but with more interest and awareness now in the Great Yellow Bumblebee, interesting and important records like this are turning up. There is even the tantalising possibility that the Great Yellow Bumblebee could recolonise the Moray and Aberdeenshire coasts.”
Warm weather has also played its part. Dr Dawson added:
“The good summer up here has certainly helped with finding bees, which wouldn’t have been possible without the help of farmers and landowners allowing access to flower-rich crops and other suitable, flower-rich areas. Our observations have cemented earlier, pioneering work of bumblebee experts in the area, so we now have a firmer idea of where the bees are, which is essential for directing further conservation effort. People have been really pleased to find they are hosting not just the rare Great Yellow Bumblebee on their land, but a whole range of other species as well.”
There have been further important finds this year by Paul Castle, Highland Council North Sutherland Ranger, who has been involved with the Great Yellow Bumblebee for several years:
"2009 has been an exciting summer, finding the Great Yellow Bumblebee at two previously unrecorded sites at Melvich and Reay along the north coast. These new sites mean we have now linked the Caithness and Sutherland populations. It was particularly pleasing following last season when, despite searching, I never saw a single Great Yellow Bumblebee! It's great to know this vulnerable mainland population is able to recover from an apparently disastrous season."
Dave Jones, the RSPB's Caithness Reserves Site Manager commented:
"We are delighted that the Great Yellow Bumblebee has also been found on the RSPB's new Broubster Leans reserve in Caithness. This is a further indication of the Broubster Lean's biodiversity and the importance of the reserve. The RSPB looks forward to working closely with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to conserve the Great Yellow Bumblebee and the other species that depend on the distinctive flower-rich habitat."
Everyone can do their bit to help bumblebees. Gardeners can provide cottage garden plants for them to feed on throughout the year (more info...), whilst farmers and land managers can use options through the new agri-environment schemes (more info...). The pollen and nectar-rich habitats that can be created will be invaluable in further boosting populations of this rare bumblebee.
Bumblebee idenification walks
We've recently added details of forthcoming bumblebee identification walks to this page. Walks are planned for Leicester, High Wycombe, Glamorgan, Kent and Salisbury Plain.
Look in the side bar on the left for further details, and please contact us if you'd like to attend.
The Short-haired Bumblebee reintroduction project
Today sees our latest project unveiled to the World's media. The short-haired bumblebee (Bombus subterraneus) is extinct in the UK, last seen in 1988. We are working with partners to reintroduce it from New Zealand.
It was originally exported from the UK to New Zealand on the first refrigerated lamb boats in the late 19th Century to pollinate clover crops. Although extinct in the UK, populations on the other side of the world have survived. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is working in partnership with Natural England, RSPB and Hymettus to bring the species home.
Read more about the project here, or follow it's progress on Nikki's blog.
News from over the pond
The problems with pollinators here in the UK are mirrored elsewhere in Europe and North America. This video from the USA illustrates the problem (and potential solutions) beautifully.
Thumbs up to Xerces for their important work. Maybe we can learn some lessons here in the UK from the situation over there. Note the emphasis on the provision of habitat...
Habitat Aid goes LIVE! (06/05/09)
Habitat Aid is a new web-based company selling high quality products which enhance or regenerate our vanishing native habitats. Half of the profits they make go to specialist charities working to protect and promote biodiversity in Britain, including BBCT. So at both levels they are promoting all-important habitat improvements.
The charities they support are directly related to the products on sale. Chose from a great selection of plants and seeds, native trees and shrubs, traditional orchard trees, plants and kit for aquatic environments, nest boxes and refuges, mixed hedges and hedging plants and traditional tools
Visit the Habitat Aid website to learn more.
Funding boost for pollinator research (21/04/09)
Up to £10 million is to be invested to help to identify the main
threats to bees and other insect pollinators, under a project announced today.
Bumblebees are one of our most important pollinators and are essential for the pollination of vital crops and therefore the food on our plates. Our colourful wild flowers also need pollinators, and without them many could disappear. Wild solitary bees, butterflies, hoverflies and more besides also have an important role to play which deserves wider recognition. Many pollinator groups have declined in recent years, with bumblebees among those struggling.
At a time when disease is decimating managed honeybee populations it is more important than ever that we look after our wild pollinators.
Some of the UK's major research funders have joined together to launch a new research programme. They argue that "the biggest challenge will be to develop a better understanding of the complex relationships between biological and environmental factors which affect the health and lifespan of pollinators".
There is a considerable body of evidence suggesting that a lack of habitat within the farmed landscape has already been identified is an important factor. Pollinator communities need an integrated landscape-scale approach to sensitive management. This is most certainly the case for bumblebees.
We hope that such a significant investment in research will be matched by a similar investment in the implementation of existing research outputs, which point to the provision of habitat for pollinators within the farmed landscape as a priority.
More information here...
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Thanks to the amazing support we've received from members, the general public and others (including the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme, SNH and Esmée Fairbairn), we continue to grow rapidly! Firstly, a warm welcome to our newly appointed secretary, Christiane Nitsch. She'll be the first point of contact for anyone contacting the Trust, and has the dubious pleasure of getting us all a bit more organised! |
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Secondly, another warm welcome - this time to our new Scottish Conservation Officer, Bob Dawson. Bob has joined us from the RSPB, and has a wealth of experience in working with farmers and land managers. We're hopeful that he'll be able to use that experience to help the rare Great Yellow and Moss Carder bumblebees. Both species urgently need the help of farmers throughout Scotland.
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And last but by no means least, we'd like to welcome Ben Darvill onto the BBCT team. Many of you will know that Ben was instrumental in setting up the Trust and overseeing its development. When the Trustees decided to advertise for an Ecologist and Development Manager, Ben was keen to apply - but as a Trustee himself it wasn't straightforward! Thankfully the Charity Commission gave the go ahead and he proved to be the strongest applicant for the post. He moves from a research post in the conservation genetics of rare bumblebees and we wish him well in his new role. |
National insect week events
Please book in advance by emailing enquiries@bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk |
Thursday 21th December, 7.30pm.
“The Plight of the Bumblebee” For further information contact Donald Smith, secretary of the East Lothian Beekeepers Association on 01620 822441 or email BBCT Sunday 22nd June, 2-4pm - Learn about bumblebees at the Bumblebee Conservation Trust's wildflower meadow beside Loch Leven (Perth and Kinross). Meet at the RSPB Vane Farm visitors centre at 13:50. Bring sturdy footwear. Donations to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust are welcome, and entry to the reserve for non-RSPB members is £3. Sunday 22nd June, 10am - 3pm - Sheringham Park, Norfolk (National Trust). Nick Owens is running an identification and conservation of bumblebees workshop. Cost £12 to National Trust members and £14 to non-members. Tel. 01263 820550 to book. The session will include field work and photography of bumblebees plus an indoor workshop Tuesday 24th June, 7pm - 9pm - A world without bees - Alison Benjamin & Brian McCallum (authors of a new book, 'A world without bees Wednesday 25th June, 6-8pm - Learn about bumblebees at the Bumblebee Conservation Trust's wildflower meadow beside Loch Leven (Perth and Kinross). Meet at the RSPB Vane Farm visitors centre at 17:50. Bring sturdy footwear and perhaps a packed dinner. Donations to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust are welcome, and entry to the reserve for non-RSPB members is £3. Saturday 28th June, 11am onward - Dunblane (nr. Stirling). Take a walk along the riverside paths with BBCT director Dave Goulson to learn all about bumblebees and how to identify them. Meet in the car park next to Dunblane Cathedral. Donations to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust are welcome. |
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', in conversation with Guardian Environmental editor John Vidal. The Guardian Newsroom, 60 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3ER. Tickets £8, payable on the door, and with proceeds going to Bees Abroad.Other events in 2008 |
27th - 31st May - Bath and West Show. Come and meet us at our stall! 30th May - 1st June - Gardening Scotland. Another massive and excellent event - come and meet us, and pick up some bumblebee friendly plants while you're there! Wednesday 4th June - Bumblebees for Beginners. An introduction to bumblebees and how to identify the common species. 6.30pm at Camley Street Natural Park, London NW1. Admission free, no need to book. Organised by the London Natural History Society. ----- followed by - 15th June - a field trip to an area of chalk grassland in South London, where workshop members will be invited to put their ID skills to the test. Booking required for field trip, please email enquiries@bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk Saturday 7th June, 11am - 3pm - Parc Slip family fun day at Parc Slip Nature Centre, Fountain Road, Tondu, CF32 0EH. A great day out with pond dipping, nature trail, mini beast hunt, landrover safaris, information and advice on wildlife gardening, meet Bridgend Beekeepers and learn how to make honey, come face to face with owls from The Welsh Owl and Wildlife Sanctuary. Our conservation Officer Lucie will be there too, leading short bumblebee identification walks. Entry is FREE. Sunday 8th June, 10:30am - 4pm - Springfest at RSPB's Vane Farm nature reserve (Perth and Kinross). A family activity day packed with interesting events. We'll be there leading ID walks around the bumblebee wildflower meadow every 45 minutes or so, and there will be all sorts of other things to get involved in. No need to book, but entry charges apply - RSPB members go FREE, adults £3, families £6, concessions £2. Sunday 6th July, Sunday 6 July 2008 - 10.30am - 5pm - Celebrate Ayrshire at Culzean Castle. An exciting festival of all things Ayrshire – including farming, fishing, food, arts, history, the environment. Maybole Pipe Band and Dalmellington Band will both be present. We'll be there with a stall, if you'd like to come along and meet us. Sunday 6th July, 3 - 5pm - Learn about bumblebees at the High Wycombe Environment Centre in the Rye/Holywell Mead Park with local expert Clive Hill. Places limited so please email enquiries@bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk to book Wednesday 30th July, 6 - 8pm - Bumblebees and Honeybees evening with the Loch Leven NNR volunteers. All welcome. At the Millbridge Hall, Kinross. Contact enquiries@bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk for more information Friday 1 - Sat 2nd August, The Perth Agricultural Show - We'll be there with a stall, so please come along and say hello Saturday 2 August, 11am – 1pm - Bumblebee Walk, Epenede, nr Confolens, Charente, France. Directions: From Epenede, go towards Pleuville. After 500m turn left. At the Horse chestnut tree turn left again. Contact dave.goulson@stir.ac.uk if you would like to attend Sunday 3rd August, 2pm – 4pm - Buzzing about in the Botanic Gardens. A potter around the flower borders of the Leicester University Botanic Gardens. Learn how to identify the “Big Six” bumblebee species and their cuckoos. Please email us for more information and to reserve your place. Sorry - this event is now fully booked Thursday 28th August, Monmouth Show. We'll be at this show with a stall, so another chance to come and say hello! Thursday 20th November, 7-9pm. Irreplaceable – the World’s Most Invaluable Species. The ever-popular and thought-provoking Earthwatch Debate this year focuses on the world’s most irreplaceable species – choose between bees, bats, fungi, plankton and primates. Dr. George McGavin will be championing bees - good luck George! At the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR - contact the Earthwatch Europe Events Department on (01865) 318856; events@earthwatch.org.uk |
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Recruiting! |
Ecologist and Development Manager - £28,290 - £33,780 We're looking for a new member of staff with a broad range of skills to join our team. The successful applicant will be passionate about bumblebee conservation and will be able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of their behaviour and ecology. They will have a demonstrable track record in fundraising, development and marketing, and will be proficient in web design and maintenance. Line management experience is preferable. Please email for further particulars, or to apply The deadline for applications is 12th June 2008. |
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We've recently signed up to an excellent new site called everyclick.com. It's a search engine, just like Google, but with a difference. Every time you search, you generate funds for a charity of your choice. It doesn't cost you anything - there's no catch. The website uses the results from Ask.com (a popular search engine), and donates money for 'every click'. Please click the button on the left, and set the Bumblebee Conservation Trust as your charity of choice! |
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Summer Surveys! |
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Reserves - developments... |
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Nest box trial |
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GYBB Research |
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Great Yellow Bumblebee - Action |
SNH have kindly funded a (£17,000) project to help the Great Yellow Bumblebee (B. distinguendus). We're producing 400 interactive schools packs for P2-3 children. These packs provide all of the resources and information necessary for 3 exciting lessons, which are integrated into the national curriculum. They've been trialled (and very well received) at a number of schools throughout Scotland, and the final packs are in production. Any interested teachers from Scottish schools, please contact us. We've also produced information leaflets and posters for farmers and crofters, which will be widely distributed in GYBB strongholds. We hope to help improve the management in these areas, for the benefit of GYBB. |
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Wildlife Gardens |
Plans for our own demonstration wildlife garden (at the University of Stirling) are taking shape. We're hoping to create a beautiful cottage garden, using traditional garden plants and wildflowers, which will be a haven for bumblebees. In addition, we are developing a wildlife garden site at Johnston Terrace in the centre of Edinburgh, in partnership with the Scottish Wildlife Trust |
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Welcome! |
We are delighted to welcome Bridget England and Lucie Southern to the trust. They have taken up full-time positions as Senior Conservation Officer and Conservation Officer respectively. We are very pleased to have them on board, and wish them every success in all that they do. |
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Charity Status |
BBCT are pleased to announce that we have been granted charity status (Registered Charity Number 1115634). We had previously been operating as a not-for-profit company while the paperwork was processed. If you haven't already - pleased print and post a gift-aid form. |
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Sniffer Dog! |
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Reserve Appeal |
NEW! We are searching for Reserve Founders. Thanks to the amazing support that we have already received, we are now in a position to consider buying or managing our first nature reserve. We are going to need help to raise the extra funds to do this. To find out how you can become a Reserve Founder, or to support our Reserve Appeal - click here |
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BBCT meets the BBC |
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Windfalls... |
We are delighted to announce that we have just been awarded two major grants to help kick-start our conservation efforts. The £50,000 and £28,000 grants come from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme (which is jointly supported by Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Executive) respectively. We are enormously grateful to these organisations and look forward to the important work ahead. |
Sunday 4th June2006 |
BBC
Springwatch 'Breathing Places' on Southampton Common
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The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is a registered charity (number 1115634) which was founded with the aim of protecting bumblebees and their associated habitats through conservation and education. We are grateful to the following organisations for their support.
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