Bee BioBlitz Day at Victory Wood, Kent

Guest blog written by Claire Inglis, Woodland Trust Assistant Site Manager (Kent)

Victory Wood, near Whitstable, Kent, has become a stronghold for a number of rare and scarce species which benefit from both its unusual location in close proximity to the coastline, and active habitat management. This week we were excited to be able to host what is becoming an annual event for our volunteer team – the Bee Bioblitz, which was also the first face-to-face event we have been able to deliver this year! Thankfully the weather improved to create the perfect opportunity to monitor populations of bumblebee species on the wing during July, including our three known rare species – the Shrill carder bee, Red-shanked carder bee and Brown-banded carder bee.

© Bex Cartwright

Surveying in the form of a bioblitz allows for a greater area of the site to be covered then would be possible in a monthly transect walk. Along with recording valuable data, the aim of the event was to allow volunteers and members of staff to develop surveying skills out in the field, whilst gaining the opportunity to see bee species that are restricted in range and numbers, and inform our conservation efforts. Everyone also enjoyed the opportunity to meet face-to-face after what has been a difficult time for many during the pandemic and what better reason than to seek out some little fuzzy-bodied friends! The event also coincided with Bees Needs Week, an initiative coordinated by Defra that we are proud to support.

© Claire Inglis

A merry band of Woodland Trust staff and volunteers, including Site Manager for Victory Wood, Claire Inglis, were joined by members of our partner organisations, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (including Shrill carder bee species project manager, Bex Cartwright, and Head of Science and Conservation, Dr Amy Plowman), colleagues from Butterfly Conservation (Magnificent Moths Conservation Officer, Rebecca Levey and Engagement Officer, Emma Pestridge), Kent’s Plan Bee Officer, Emma Lansdell (who also happens to be one of our wonderful site volunteers!), and ‘Gardener’s World’  journalist and presenter, Kate Bradbury, who is a Bumblebee Conservation Trust Patron. Kate said: “I really enjoyed being out in the field looking for bees and meeting my first Red-shanked carder bee! It was lovely to see what a successful partnership the Bumblebee Conservation Trust has forged with the Woodland Trust, and I loved Victory Wood – what a great site for bumbles!”.

© G Davis

Two groups formed to undertake the surveys in different areas of the site, discovering between them some Brown-banded carder bees and one Red-shanked bumblebee among other more common species – over 100 bees were seen in total. A number of solitary bees were also spotted, including the large meadow mining bee and the Red bartsia bee. During the survey, the groups heard grasshopper warblers, tree pipits, skylarks and we were lucky enough to spot a number of other interesting and scarce invertebrates at this special site.

Shrill carder bee queen © Mark Chidwick

Sadly, during the event, neither group spotted perhaps the star attraction – the Shrill carder bee – though the patience of two of our volunteers paid off and after staying at the site, they found a beautiful queen! She was spotted in a similar area to where Claire found a queen last year, leading her to believe that it’s a key area for nesting or overwintering queens. It wasn’t very surprising that the late foraging Shrill carder bee kept a low profile as with the strange weather its activity is somewhat delayed this year, with only two sightings in the nearby locality so far. Peak activity is anticipated to occur in late August. As time was limited on the day to survey this area, there is talk of returning to Victory Wood again for a follow up survey before the end of summer, so watch this space for details!

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