Exciting news- rare bumblebees are spreading!!

Dear all
 
We have had some wonderful news to share! This summer our transects have shown that many of the rare bumblebee species around Kent have been spreading. A couple of weeks ago I found the very rare Bombus ruderatus in Woodchurch, where it has not been seen since 1984. Brian Banks from Swift Ecology then found a male B. ruderatus at Dungeness. In the north of Kent we have also noted that Bombus slyvarum has increased its dispersal, and then again it popped up again at Dungeness this summer! We have also found that the moss carder, B. muscorum, and brown banded carder, B. humilis, bees have spread out from Dungeness and Romney marsh and are heading up along the coast and through the marshes to new grounds. This really is wonderful news for our bees and we are very pleased with these results. The two pictures attached are of the all black form of B. ruderatus and the brown banded carder bee B. humilis (which was brilliantly taken by Alan Parker at Dungeness on Sunday).
 
We believe these bees have started to spread due to the use of agri- environment schemes by farmers and land owners. The agri-enevironment schemes offer land owners grants to create habitat for our wildlife. For example around arable fields, wild flowers can be planted in a border to attract nectar loving insects and pastoral farmers can leave some fields ungrazed for between 4-8 weeks to allow the wild flowers to grow. These habitats create a corridor and a mosaic across our countryside allowing the bumblebees to disperse into new areas. Its a great success story for our bumblebees...
 
Till next time..........
 
 

Bumblebee co-op day

Dear all
 
As some of you may know the co-op has been using honey bees as part of their campaign. The regional office contacted me about potentially doing something with the plight of bumblebees! Which of course I excepted. I did an afternoon walk and talk with the group. We had about 35 people come along, which was a good turnout. We managed to see lots of B. muscorum workers (moss carder bee) which was fantastic. RSPB have been creating lots of bumblebee habitat there and its great to see the bumblebee in large numbers there. Here's some pics of the days events.
 
If you are free this weekend RSPB are holding their countryside fair, there are lots of wildlife stalls and arts and crafts. Its free to come along and of course walk round the reserve after. There will be two bumblebee walks and talks per day, one at 11:30am and the other at 2:30pm.
 
Till next time...