Managing your land for bumblebees
Bumblebees are hard-working and versatile insects that provide an important pollination service to flowering plants.
Bumblebees can be found in many habitats, from urban to rural, lowland to upland. The different bumblebee species present on a site will vary geographically and seasonally, but some key principles will help you to make bumblebee-friendly decisions for a wide range of species on your land.
The most important objective when improving a site for bumblebees is to increase the abundance and diversity of bumblebee-friendly plants and to ensure that flowers are available throughout the year, but especially from March to October. Even small patches of flower-rich habitat scattered across a site will help to ensure that bumblebees do not need to forage too far from their nest.
When deciding how to manage land more sensitively for bumblebees, you must first identify what habitats are already present. It is particularly important to note where there are existing flowering plants for bumblebees and when they flower – this tells you where and when you have gaps in forage availability. It is also important to identify where you have good nesting habitat including tussocky grass, woodland edge, hedgerows and other dense vegetation.
Please note, each site is unique and the recommended management approach will depend on local site conditions and the historical or traditional management regime. For site-specific advice, please contact your local Trust Conservation Officer by viewing our projects or email enquiries@bumblebeeconservation.org.
We also offer bespoke land management and training services, providing support that will help you improve your understanding of bumblebees and how to manage your land for them. View our leaflet for further detail and contact information.