FROM BUMBLEBEE CONSERVATION

August brings a vibrant feel to the summer season, with gardens in full bloom and communities buzzing with life. This month we bring you a wonderful fundraising update, along with news of our work to save the Moss carder bumblebee in England. We also have details of how you can take action to reduce pesticides in your community, bumblebee-friendly planting ideas, as well as our new furry friend - Luco, and more! Read on for a packed August edition! Thank you! At the start of the month we reached out for your help and we're delighted to let you know that, thanks to your generosity, we’ve exceeded our £50,000 fundraising target and raised £65,908 for bumblebees. Your donation will help save rare bumblebees, inspire schools, train volunteers, and keep our vital conservation work going 🐝💛 Thank you to everyone who donated, signed up as a member, purchased from our online shop and shared our urgent appeal posts. Whether you are a long-time supporter or have recently joined us, thank you for standing with us in this critical moment. You have shown what is possible when we come together to protect something we all care about. Read more about our fundraising🌼 Moss carder bumblebee recovery in England The Trust’s biggest Moss carder bumblebee (Bombus muscorum) research project is underway! We’re undertaking work simultaneously in Cornwall, Kent and the North Pennines to better understand how to save this vulnerable bumblebee. While previous conservation work has benefitted other bumblebee species, the Moss carder bumblebee has not responded so positively. Even where it persists, it’s only found in very low numbers. In order to find out more, we’re employing a range of survey and analysis techniques, including flower surveys, landscape assessments by drone (as shown in the photo above), local and national data, and genetics. This work will continue through 2025 and then our Science Team will bring together and analyse all the data to help us get closer to finding the solution that will bring these bees back from the brink. This work is supported by Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme, Kelly’s of Cornwall and The Big Give. Discover more conservation projects 🐝 Take action on pesticides in your community