Bumblebee Conservation Trust

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is a charity dedicated to protecting bumblebee populations in the UK. 

Bumblebees are wild species that unlike honey bees, don't have beekeepers to look after them. It may surprise you to hear that honey bees don't actually need 'saving' at all, in fact, they are thriving with the number of hives having almost doubled in the world since the 1960's. 

Bumblebees however, are suffering serious declines in their numbers and distribution, even in the UK. When you see a bumblebee flying and visiting flowers, it is only ever around 45 minutes from starvation because that is how long a full 'tank' of the nectar they depend on to fly will last them.

Why save bumblebees?

Most flowers need pollination to reproduce and bumblebees provide this “freebee” service to  create much of the food on our plates as well as fruits and seeds for birds and small mammals to feed on. They are key indicators of the health of our biodiversity and environment but in the last century, two species have become extinct in the UK, two more are on the brink and several others are in steep decline.

How do we know that bumblebees are in trouble?

There is plenty of independent evidence from biodiversity studies showing a steep decline in our wild pollinating insects, including bumblebees. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust set up a national survey and monitoring scheme 'BeeWalk' in 2008 which provides specific data on bumblebee species numbers and distribution in England, Scotland and Wales. These data provide vital information on population trends.

What do we do to protect bumblebees?

🐝 Practical habitat conservation projects to protect threatened bumblebee species across the UK, working with/advising landowners, farmers and communities. 

🐝 Raise awareness of the importance of our bumblebees to food production, biodiversity and a healthy natural environment. 

🐝 Working with schools and providing curriculum-based learning resources to inspire future citizens to value and protect nature.

🐝 Providing information resources on bumblebee ecology and simple 'how to' guides on easy steps anyone can take to help bumblebees.

🐝 Working with like-minded businesses, environmental organisations and charities to influence local, regional and national policy.

To learn more about bumblebees, visit our website: https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/ and follow us on social media.