Knowledge of how to ensure the survival of one of the UK’s rarest bumblebees – the Great Yellow – has been boosted as road verge surveys in Caithness have highlighted their importance in connecting one of the last remaining mainland populations of this iconic species.
Wildlife charity the Bumblebee Conservation Trust carried out a survey on road verge habitats in 2023, which has revealed significant potential for habitat improvement. The work was supported by Highland Titles.
Pieter Haringsma
The Great Yellow bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus) is so rare just five populations areas remain in the UK, all of which are in Scotland. Like many bumblebee species the population has crashed over the last 80 years. The remaining fragments of the mainland population are in urgent need of attention as they continue to decline.
The Trust are now recommending significant changes to the current road verge management regime, requiring the purchase of new machinery which will both cut the verges and collect the cut vegetation at the same time. The benefits of this type of management has multiple benefits to biodiversity and for the economy.
Katy Malone, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s Scotland Conservation Projects Manager, said; “The north coasts of Sutherland and Caithness were former strongholds for the iconic Great Yellow bumblebee, which needs abundant flower-rich habitat from June to September, Sadly in a recent survey, we found very few Great Yellows left in Sutherland and fewer than expected in Caithness. I fear that if action is not taken soon to reconnect the remaining populations, we will lose this species from the mainland completely.”
Andrew Doyle, Plantlife Conservation Officer Road Verges and Green Spaces, said; “This new report from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust is a crucial first step in working collaboratively to manage road verges for nature in Caithness. By seizing the opportunities provided by our road verges we can create a thriving, connected network of wildflower-rich habitats that deliver benefits to climate and the local community. At Plantlife we aim to support, empower, and enable key stakeholders such as local councils and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to help make this change possible across the UK.”
Douglas Wilson, CEO Highland Titles, said, “The results from the survey are clear: we need to take action. Connecting and managing the road verges in a sensitive way is going to be crucial to our efforts and we have to start making changes now to help a much loved and iconic species.”
Katy Malone added; “Managing the road verges in a way that both benefits nature and balances road safety is a key part of the plan. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is committed to working with the Highland Council to achieve these joint aims and make Caithness a place where bumblebees and other essential pollinators can thrive. The ground work has been done – we know what we need to do – we just need to get on and do it! We are calling on anyone who wants to see this kind of change in their own area to get in touch so that we can discuss if we can add your local verges into the plan.”
The Great Yellow road verge project was funded by Highland Titles. View Report.
