Save Our Shrills: Somerset
Helping Somerset’s rarest bumblebee thrive – with communities at the heart of the solution.
What are we doing?
Save Our Shrills (SOS): Somerset is a major conservation project to secure a future for the Shrill carder bumblebee (Bombus sylvarum) – England’s rarest bumblebee. Once widespread, this species is now found in just a handful of isolated areas, with as few as 15 individuals recorded in Somerset in 2024, and only two in 2025.
From 2026 – 2029, the project will create wildflower‑rich habitat, support landowners to adopt pollinator‑friendly practices, and empower local people to take action for bumblebees across Somerset.
This work follows a two‑year development phase and forms the next step in delivering the Somerset Local Action Plan for Shrill carder bumblebee recovery.
Target species and location
The Shrill carder bumblebee (Bombus sylvarum) was once widespread but is now found only in a handful of locations across England. SOS Somerset will work across 21 sites covering more than 930 hectares, including country parks, farms, community gardens and nature reserves.
Although centred on the Shrill carder bumblebee, the project also supports other rare bumblebees found in the region, including the Moss carder bumblebee (Bombus muscorum), Brown-banded carder bumblebee (Bombus humilis), Ruderal bumblebee (Bombus ruderatus) and the Red-shanked carder bumblebee (Bombus ruderarius).
Goals and objectives
The project aims to create more and better‑connected habitats, strengthen understanding of local bumblebee populations, and equip communities, landowners and volunteers with the skills and confidence to support bumblebees long beyond the project’s end.
We expect the project to deliver a range of positive results including creating or enhancing habitat across all 21 project sites, establishing six new BeeWalk routes, increasing public awareness and participation in bumblebee conservation, and developing long‑term volunteer networks to support ongoing monitoring.
Activities and methods
Work includes restoring and creating flower‑rich meadows, giving tailored habitat advice to landowners and co‑designing small habitat projects with community groups. Engagement activities including bumblebee safaris, workshops, surveys and volunteer training to help people discover bumblebees and learn how to support them in a practical and enjoyable way.
Get involved!
We’re looking for volunteers from all walks of life to support the project! Whether you’re passionate about bumblebees or have a skill to share, there’s a place for you:
• Join BeeWalk to monitor bumblebee populations
• Become a Bumblebee Champion
• Take part in habitat creation days
• Attend a workshop, talk, safari or identification training
• Landowner outreach sessions
• Community planting and conservation activities.
Donations and local sponsorship also help extend the project’s reach and impact.
If you are interested in getting involved as a volunteer, please email helen.temple@bumblebeeconservation.org
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