LET’S HELP OUR BUMBLEBEES EVEN MORE THIS SPRING — FROM BUMBLEBEE CONSERVATION

view online Bumblebee Conservation Trust logo Montage of images including bumblebees, people and flowers March is a great time to start gardening. With longer days and warmer temperatures, the soil begins to warm up, making it the perfect time to get the garden ready for summer and all importantly to plant a variety of plants for bumblebees! Let's get you started with our March planting guide below featuring our top picks. You may have started to see emerging queens looking for a place to start a nest - take a look at our animation to see how you can help. Happy planting! Decline of rare bumblebee sparks renewed efforts to support recovery Display of daffodils against backdrop of Lytes Cary Manor and blue sky by Tasmin Holmes The nationally rare Shrill carder bumblebee continues to decline in Somerset despite a decade of dedicated conservation work at the National Trust’s Lytes Cary Manor. There were just three sightings across the county last year, with none at this key site. Mark Musgrave, Lead Ranger at Lytes Cary Manor said “At Lytes Cary Manor efforts are made each year, both in the garden and wider estate, to provide habitat for Shrills. In particular, there is an emphasis on late summer forage, this has included reverting a whole field into a legume mix. Despite this targeted effort the last decade has seen a decline in sightings year on year including none seen in 2024". Full news story 🗞️ Help us count the UK's bumblebees🚶🏽‍♀️ Person and dog walking through urban housing estate with clipboard BeeWalk, our national bumblebee monitoring scheme, is back for 2025. Becoming a BeeWalker is a direct way you can make a difference for the UK’s bumblebees after the worst year on record in 2024. Anyone with basic bumblebee identification knowledge can become a BeeWalker. To take part in BeeWalk, all you need to do is set up a transect of about a mile (you choose your route) and walk it once a month between March and October. Then submit which bumblebees you see along the way! Your support through BeeWalk will allow us to detect early warning signs of bumblebee population declines and take action. Perhaps you are a budding BeeWalker, keen to head out on your transect or adopt a transect? Or are you new to BeeWalk, and want to help us monitor bumblebees across the UK? Get started today - the bumblebees need you. Become a BeeWalker 🔍 How to provide bumblebee nest sites🐝 Illustration of a bumblebee and foliage with play button Spring has sprung! The evenings are lighter and the world around us is starting to turn green again as plants make the most of the extra light and rising temperatures. You may have already seen your first bumblebees or you might be awaiting their return. Three of the most common spring emerging bumblebees are the Buff-tailed bumblebee, the Early bumblebee and the Tree bumblebee. All will be searching for somewhere to set up home. Check out our short animation for how you can help them! Have you spotted these spring emerging queen bumblebees? Please do add your sightings to iRecord. You can submit records without logging in too Bumblebee on bright pink flower The Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) Side profile of bumblebee on purple flower with green background The Tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) Bumblebee on white flower in sunshine The Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) Wonderful weeds Group of dandelions with a play button in the middle This year, leave some wonderful weeds for bumblebees. Spring is often when we start noticing the corners that look a bit untidy or the plants that are growing in the wrong place but bumblebees don't mind. In fact they rely on 'weeds' like dandelions and white-dead nettle at this time of year when there aren't many other plants in flower yet. Can you Bee the Change for bumblebees and leave some wonderful weeds? March planting guide Selection of flowers in purple and orange with inset picture displaying planting guide Boost your flower power with our March planting guide! Not sure when to plant different bumblebee-friendly flowers? Our monthly guides make it easy to add pollen and nectar-rich plants to your space throughout the year, whether you have a garden or just a window box! Our top picks for March are mint, hardy geranium, nasturtium, and bugle. Plant now, then simply wait for them to flower. March planting guide 🌼 Events calendar Close up shot of person holding bee ID guide and bumblebee in pot Looking to learn more about bumblebees? We have a number of online and in person events covering bumblebee ID, their ecology, monitoring and more. Do check back regularly throughout the season as we add more! View events 📅 Did you know you can subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow our projects on X: @nikkigammans @BuzzingWales @BuzzingShrill @BuzzingScotland YouTube icon Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Registered Charity No: 1115634 / Scottish Charity No: SC042830. © 2025 Bumblebee Conservation Trust. All rights reserved. You are receiving this newsletter because you are already a member, subscribed via our website, an event or when becoming a volunteer. We hope you enjoy reading it! Registered address: International House, 109-111 Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8JA; Correspondence address: Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Beta Centre, Stirling University Innovation Park, Stirling FK9 4NF Unsubscribe