Intermediate-level BeeWalk bumblebee identification training

Join the Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s Science Manager, Dr Richard Comont, for an afternoon of bumblebee monitoring and identification. This session is designed for participants who already have a basic understanding of bumblebee ID. Richard will explore how the Trust monitors their populations and share what recent survey results reveal, as well as how you can get involved through the BeeWalk scheme and PoMS FIT Counts survey.

The session will then move into identification skills, including how to recognise bumblebees as a group and distinguish them from other flying insects found across Britain. You’ll progress to field identification of all 24 bumblebee species currently resident in the UK, covering the ‘Big 8’ common species, the six cuckoo bumblebees, and the 10 scarce or rare species. Guidance on useful field equipment and recommended ID resources will also be included.