What’s new?
7 July 2008
The plight of the bumblebee
Cambridge residents are asked to take part in bee survey
The Cambridge City Greenways Project is asking for help in learning more about these fascinating creatures and to establish which sites are important to them.
Nationally the bumblebee has declined enormously in both species and numbers. There are now only six species found in Cambridge, where in the past there were over 10.
Bumblebees are an integral part of many habitats and are important pollinators of wild and cultivated plants — raspberry flowers being a particular favourite. They are also indicators of important wildlife habitats — The larger number of bumblebees and the wider the range of species the better the site is for wildlife.
The best time to survey bumblebees is in July and August when bumblebee numbers are at their highest. People who want to take part in the survey then have to choose a sunny and warm day and visit a flower rich place. This could be their garden, a local churchyard, nature reserve or recreation ground, spending 20 minutes recording the different species and counting the number of individuals seen.
To take part, please download a bumblebee survey form for each area you survey. For more information, please contact Iain Webb on 01954 713531 or email iain.webb [at] wildlifebcnp.org.