31 March 2026
A significant new conservation project has been launched to help protect Somerset’s nationally important populations of some of the UK’s rarest and most threatened species of bumblebee.
Save Our Shrills (SOS): Somerset is a three-year initiative run by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which brings hope for the county’s shrill carder bumblebees (Bombus sylvarum).
Of the 24 species of bumblebee in the UK, the shrill carder bumblebee is one of the rarest, and Somerset is one of a handful of areas in the UK with remaining populations. However, numbers of this fascinating species, named after the high-pitched buzz it makes, are perilously low. In 2025, just two shrill carder bumblebees were recorded in the county, underlining the urgent need for action.
The project will focus on creating and reconnecting bumblebee habitat across the county, while empowering local people to play a hands‑on role in saving this iconic pollinator.
Working across 21 sites covering more than 930 hectares, SOS: Somerset will restore wildflower‑rich areas and connect fragmented landscapes giving the species space to recover and thrive, as well as a boost to other pollinators.
Community involvement will be at the heart of the project. Local residents, volunteers, farmers and landowners will be supported to take part in practical conservation, survey work, and awareness‑raising. Volunteers will receive training to help monitor bees, lead community activities and build long‑lasting conservation skills within Somerset.
Helen Temple, Conservation Projects Manager at the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded £185,495 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we can create more better-connected habitat for the shrill carder bumblebee across Somerset’s towns and countryside.
“This is fantastic news for one of Somerset’s rarest species. By combining habitat restoration, citizen science, and community skills, SOS: Somerset will give this rare bumblebee a real chance of recovery and help people across the county feel part of its future.”
Stuart McLeod, Director, England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, we’re proud to support the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to protect one of Somerset’s rarest bumblebees. Save Our Shrills: Somerset will not only restore vital habitats and reconnect landscapes but also give local people the chance to play a meaningful role in safeguarding the future for the Shrill carder bumblebee.”
To find out more, or to become a volunteer on this project, visit the project page.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
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