The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has stepped in to help stop the serious decline in the country’s bumblebee population. Today HLF announced a grant of £340,000 for an ambitious project by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, based at Stirling University, to conserve a variety of endangered bumblebee species and their habitats throughout the UK.
Bumblebees are fundamental to our ecosystem with hundreds of species of wildflower, fruits such as raspberries, strawberries and tomatoes and vegetables such as runner beans, are dependent on them for pollination. The total value of pollination in the UK exceeds £400million. However, over the last 70 years there has been a dramatic decrease in their population with two species becoming totally extinct and six of the remaining 24 species now listed as UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) priority species.
In the UK, the flower rich grasslands on which bumblebees depend have reduced by 97% since the 1930’s. This is primarily a result of a move to more intensive forms of agriculture after the Second World War, resulting in the loss of hay meadows and clover leys. Meanwhile changes in domestic gardens, with a preference for decking and mown lawns, has also meant fewer flowers for the bees. This loss of habitat has led to fragmentation with species surviving in isolated areas such as military land, grassland nature reserves and coastal grasslands. This isolation results in inbreeding which raises the likelihood of further extinctions.
Carole Souter, Chief Executive of HLF, said:
“This is a critical moment for the survival of the bumblebee population: if it continues to decline at current rates then crops, wildflowers and landscapes will also suffer. We’re excited to be supporting the Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s plans to help get people outdoors and actively involved in protecting these special insects.”
HLF’s grant will enable the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to begin a three-year conservation project, helping to protect the bumblebees and their habitat for the future. Working with landowners, farmers, the public and schools across the UK, the project will raise awareness of these important pollinators and help inform people on how best to protect them. Flower-rich habitat will be provided where it is needed most to reconnect the small isolated populations while a extensive awareness-raising programme, including an interactive website, community talks, learning packs for children, and a national wildlife self-assessment garden scheme, will be rolled out across the country.
Volunteers have played a key role in the development of this project and it is anticipated that, after training, around 500 regular bumblebee recorders with gather information on the population trends.
Chris Packham, BBCT President, Television Presenter and Naturalist, welcomed the award:
“This is great news for bumblebee conservation in the UK. The funding boost from HLF will enable the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to better reach and engage with the general public on this important subject. The funding will also significantly increase the volume and quality of conservation work that they can undertake, helping to safeguard populations of some of our rarest and most beautiful bumblebees. That means more colourful flower-rich meadows for both wildlife and people to enjoy.”
