Making a Buzz for the Coast

This exciting and ambitious project spans 135 miles of Kent’s coastline from Dartford to Deal, and focuses on restoring and creating habitat for Kent’s wild bees, especially the Shrill carder bee (Bombus sylvarum).

One of the primary aims of Making a Buzz for the Coast will be to safeguard rare bee populations by creating and restoring habitat and linking isolated populations together through the creation of flower-rich ‘stepping stones’ and habitat along the coast. Habitat and bee surveys will be an essential part of the project to help us build better data, evaluate our activities and monitor bee populations around the coast.

We know that to really have an impact and make a difference for all our wild bees around the coast we’re going to need as much help as possible. We will be touring the coast with a programme of events, activities, competitions and training to raise awareness about the importance of bees to Kent, build pride in the rare species that live right on peoples’ doorsteps and most importantly of all, inspire people to take some action to help.

The project will work with the RSPB, Thanet District Council and Thames Water on five sites to provide habitat for rare bumblebees and solitary bees. In addition, we will be working with Kent Wildlife Trust in Swale to improve roadside verges for pollinators, creating ‘Bee-roads’ and increasing habitat connectivity.

Further information

Case studies

Partners

Kent Wildlife Trust, Kent County Council, Natural England, RSPB, Swale Borough Council, Thanet District Council, Thames Water.

Funding

Funding received by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We would like to thank the following funders, who have pledged their support: Chapman Charitable Trust, Clark Bradbury Charitable Trust, Dulverton Trust, John Ellerman Foundation, Kent County Council, Macintosh Foundation, R G Hills Charitable Trust, Schroder Charity Trust, Thames Water, and all those individual donors who supported the 2016 summer fundraising appeal for this project.

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Registered Charity No. 1115634 / Scottish Charity No. SC042830

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