by Darryl Cox, Senior Science & Policy Officer
In 2019, we did a whistle-stop tour of some of the most interesting bumblebee species from around the world, from species nesting in the Amazonian basin, to a newly discovered species in the Arctic Circle, it has been a fascinating educational journey. We are very grateful to all of our guest authors from around the world for their insightful contributions.
If you missed any of the articles you can catch up via the links below: Read More
by Claire Wallace, PhD student.
Road verges. A buzzword in pollinator conservation. Here in the UK there is an estimated 500,000 kilometres of road verge just waiting to be transformed. With over 700 species of wildflower found in road verges, it is no surprise that they have been branded a “refuge” for pollinators. Current scientific research generally supports this idea, with studies often showing that verges host a greater number of pollinator species and individuals than surrounding agricultural or semi-natural habitat (Gardiner et al., 2018; Villemey et al., 2018). The increasing profile of verges and their potential for pollinators is reflected in the demand for more research from scientists, and better management plans from councils and highways managers. Read More
by Jack Reid, Outreach and Volunteering Officer at Bumblebee Conservation Trust
So, you kidnapped a bumblebee…
Each year, the Trust receives dozens of e-mails and phone calls from well-intentioned beenappers who have been out and about and found a tired-looking lone bumblebee that they’ve rescued and taken home with them to care for. In case you’ve been considering the practicalities of taking a bumblebee home, we have written up this useful guide to caring for your new friend, without taking it home! Read More
by Dr. Cathy Horsley, Senior Project Officer for the West Country Buzz project
Braunton Burrows in North Devon is four square miles of spectacular sand dunes, and home to a rich variety of plant and animal life. It is extremely important for bumblebees and holds Devon’s last remaining large population of the nationally declining Section 41 Priority species, the Brown-banded carder bee (Bombus humilis). Elsewhere in the county, it is known only from scattered records at a handful of sites around North Devon.
by Sinead Lynch, Senior Conservation Officer for Bumblebee Conservation Trust
At Bumblebee Conservation Trust we are particularly interested in methods of farming which provide habitats which are rich in flowers for bumblebees to forage on. There is an increasing movement in the farming industry towards sustainable and regenerative agriculture. Such low input and low cost methods make a farm business more resilient, and taking care of your most important resources on-farm – soil, habitats, water – makes the land more resilient to change (e.g. extreme weather such as drought). These low input methods also help to restore flower-rich habitats such as grasslands. Read More
