OK, I have a confession to make!
The love of bumblebees or concerns about the state of nature were not my motivation for getting involved with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and BeeWalk. My reasons were, I’m afraid, rather more selfish.
My route to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust began when I joined Porthkerry Wildlife Group in a bid to meet people and learn about something completely new to me.
Person surveying bumblebees in garden by Louise Gorrigan
And, as so often happens, one thing led to another and I found myself attending a bumblebee identification training day. This is where I first learnt about BeeWalk, and I instantly thought “what a fantastic scheme!”
I could immediately appreciate the importance of consistent records, month on month, year on year. This is the sort of data that takes years to accumulate, which is why we need to be generating it right now, not tomorrow, not next year…
The red tape and the road to protecting natural places and/or species can take a frustratingly long time (years). The first piece of evidence to support the need for protection is always the data.
I appreciate that for many, the word ‘data’ might seem a bit, well, dull. But BeeWalk is far from dull. It’s a great opportunity for a fully grown adult to go out and play in the park on a fine day!
My journey from that first foray into bumblebee identification, about ten years ago, has led me to get to know some lovely people.
Staff at the Bumblebee Conservation Trust have supported me with identification help and answering my technical questions. Porthkerry Wildlife Group members have been generous sharing their experience and knowledge, elevating me from my position of ignorance. The rangers, staff and volunteers at Porthkerry Country Park in the Vale of Glamorgan have really embraced making the park more wildlife friendly including, of course, creating more habitat for our wonderful bumblebees.
Two people in front of a stall with bumblebee leaflets by Louise Gorrigan
These are just a handful of the people who have helped both the bumblebees and me over the years. Some of these people are almost like family to me now.
So, looking back, whilst my motivation ten years ago was a purely selfish one, I now also recognise that doing something for oneself, when done the right way, can be educational, enjoyable and, hopefully when enough of us join in, can benefit the world around us.
So what’s stopping you – go and do a BeeWalk!
Warning – Bumblebees are a gateway to discovering many other interesting and fun things about nature. Proceeding down this path risks changing your life for the better!
Louise Gorrigan, Volunteer
