FROM BUMBLEBEE CONSERVATION TRUST

view online Bumblebee Conservation Trust logo Montage of images including bumblebees, people and flowers Hello, It's officially autumn! The weather might be cooling down as we move out of summer and towards the end of the growing season but bumblebees are still active and we are just as busy, working across the UK to bring about positive change for bumblebees. This month we bring you news of a big change to come from our Chief Executive Officer, Gill Perkins, alongside details of how you can help fight against the decline of bumblebees. We also bring you an update of our work across the UK and hands-on tips and ideas for how to help bumblebees in your garden or local green spaces. Read on to find out more 👇 A fond farewell to CEO Gill Perkins image of a bumblebee on a pale purple flower with a smaller of Gill Perkins In February 2026, our Chief Executive Officer, Gill Perkins, will be stepping down to take her well-deserved retirement. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust has been under Gill's dedicated leadership for ten years, during which time the Trust has grown to become the leading voice for bumblebee conservation in the UK. Reflecting on her time as CEO, Gill said: “Every day, I’ve been inspired by the people around me – the staff, volunteers, supporters – all of whom care deeply about bumblebees and our environment. I’ve always believed that people are the key to our success, and I’m proud to have helped nurture a love of bumblebees in so many. I feel privileged to have played my part in one short chapter of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, and I’m excited for my successor, who has the amazing opportunity to write the next part of the Trust’s wonderful story.” Angela Style, Chair of the Board of Trustees, paid tribute to Gill’s leadership: “Gill has been a visionary and compassionate leader, guiding the Trust through a decade of growth and impact. Her ability to connect people to our mission and inspire action has been extraordinary." The Trust is now beginning the search for a new Chief Executive Officer, who will join the organisation at a very exciting time as 2026 will also mark the 20th anniversary of the Trust. If you know someone who might be perfect for the position, please feel free to share with them. The deadline for applications is 2nd October 2025. Find out more about the CEO vacancy Declaration on UK Insect Declines Crisis Five people on stage at the Wild Summit event On 11th September we were delighted to join some of you at the Wild Summit in Bristol where, together with Buglife and Butterfly Conservation, we held a panel event to discuss how we can solve insect declines. During the event, we announced The Bristol Declaration on the UK Insect Declines Crisis🚨 Backed by over 60 organisations and influential people, the declaration calls for change across governments, land managers, businesses, and the general public because: 🐝 Insects are essential for our world to function. 🐞 They pollinate crops and wild plants, recycle nutrients, maintain healthy soils, control pests, and form the base of the food web for birds, bats, fish, and other wildlife. but 🐝 Bumblebees declined by almost a quarter (22.5%) in 2024 – the worst year on record since BeeWalk surveys began. 🦋 Butterflies also had their worst year on record in 2024 and have struggled to bounce back in 2025, despite ideal weather – a sign of deep environmental stress. 🪰 Flying insects have fallen by almost two thirds (63%) since 2021, based on Bugs Matter surveys. We can turn the tide on this if we all work together to 🌱 Restore insect-friendly habitats ⛔ Cut harmful pesticide use 🛡️ Protect key species and ecosystems 🔬 Invest in science and education 📈 Make the UK a leader in insect recovery Senior Science and Policy Officer, Darryl Cox, said, “This declaration is about coming together to say that insects are vital for nature to function, that there is already an overwhelming amount of evidence to show they are in crisis, and that we must act now to help them.” Will you join us in being part of the solution? Find out more about the Declaration🔍 Sponsor a Species 🐝 Bumblebees on purple flowers In the last century, the UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows, leading to the extinction of two bumblebee species. Today, eight species risk that same fate. With your support, we’re already leading the fight to save bumblebees but we need to do more. We’ve developed a Species Recovery Programme to help secure the future of rare bumblebees. Can you help? By sponsoring a species, you’ll be supporting our work to: 🐝Map the abundance and distribution of rare bumblebees in the UK 🔎Carry out scientific research and fund knowledge gaps 🆘 Define areas most in need of conservation, targeted at rare bumblebee species Sponsor a Species today ❤️ What should you do if you find an old, tired bumblebee? 🐝💤 Worn and shiny bumblebee on pink flower 📅 As the weather cools and the days shorten, we’re nearing the end of the bumblebee active period and this Common carder bumblebee is looking a bit tired and worn. ⚰️ The faded colours and missing hair are all signs that this old timer is approaching the end of its natural lifespan. Here’s how you can help: 🚫 If an old, tired bumblebee is resting in a place where they won’t get squashed, just leave them bee. Let nature gently take its course. There’s no need to take any action. 🌻 If they are resting somewhere they might get squashed, you can offer something, like a piece of kitchen paper, for the bumblebee to climb onto. Carefully carry it to a flower and let it crawl off to enjoy the last few sips of nectar peacefully. Discover more bumblebee FAQs Conservation round up Four people with bumblebee survey equipment in a park The Trust’s conservation and science projects span from Cornwall to the Outer Hebrides. Here’s a quick overview of the last few months. The Moss Carder Bee Recovery project is making headway on the ground in Cornwall, Kent and Northumberland, with bumblebee sightings across landscapes. We’re grateful to all our volunteers and project partners for their strong support so far. Our Species on the Edge team in the Outer Hebrides are helping to restore crofting land using innovative no-fence grazing collars to keep cattle where they need to be. They also hosted a successful wildlife festival with over 90 events. In Somerset, the Save Our Shrills: Somerset project is seeking new funding to continue vital work for the endangered Shrill Carder Bee. Watch this space… The Buzzing in the East End team is engaging communities in London, with flagship sites established and local community group partnerships flourishing. Project volunteers (see the photo above) have been busy surveying bumblebees across the area. Over the 2025 bumblebee season, 932 BeeWalk transects have been walked so far with more than 101,000 individual bees recorded. Vital data to understand how the bumblebees are doing! Training of our dedicated BeeWalk volunteers remains a key priority through our Skills for BeeWalk work. Both online and face-to-face bumblebee ID training have been popular this year with 765 attendees. In the Cairngorms, Skills for Bees: Scotland is thriving with new records of Bilberry bumblebees thanks to the ‘Bumblebee-bagging in the Cairngorms’ campaign. Although we are sadly saying goodbye to long-serving Project Officer Annie Ives, we are pleased to welcome Lucy Duerdoth to the team to take the project forward. Explore our projects Bee the Change for bumblebees 🐝 There may only be a few days of September left, but it's not too late to get in the garden with our fabulous September planting guide. This month, Yellow rattle is one of our top planting suggestions. Also known as hay rattle, rattle grass and the meadow maker this sometimes overlooked plant is a key part of wildflower habitats as it is semi-parasitic on grass roots, stealing away nutrients for its own use. This weakens grasses and prevents them from out competing the wild flowers that our bumblebees rely on. Why not add Yellow rattle to your meadow, whether it's a mini meadow pot or a larger area? It's easy to grow by scattering and treading, but not covering, the seed in to bare soil. To prepare the area, just use a rake to scrape back the surface vegetation in a few places. Discover more plants to grow in September in our FREE planting guide👇🏾 September planting guide Fundraising regulator The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is registered with the Fundraising Regulator. You can read more on our Fundraising Promise online. We will never sell or swap your details, and you can opt-out at any time. For further information please see our Privacy Policy. 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