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Saturday, 26 July 2008

The Plight of the Bumblebee

The Plight of the Bumble Bee

Two things have happened;

1. I discovered the concern of environmentalists about the unexplained deaths and depopulation of honey bees. (already written about that)

2. I discovered The Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT) and RSPB (Royal Society for Protection of Birds) Scotland, joined forces to transform a field into a wildflower meadow, with a special trail for visitors. Effectively they have created a Bumblebee sanctuary!!

This meadow is situated at Vane Farm nature reserve, beside Loch Leven, Kinross, Scotland, (must add it to my ‘have to see’ list). It has been reported that rare and endangered bumblebees are happily swarming to the sanctuary. The already rare Blaeberry Bumblebee, with its distinctive red, furry, tum has made its home in this meadow. The critically endangered Great Yellow Bumblebee has not yet been seen there but the conservationists are hopeful.

Dr Ben Darvill, director of the Conservation trust has been quoted as saying;

Blaeberry bumblebee

“Wildflowers and crops alike depend on the hard work of our endearing bumblebees but, sadly, many species are now under threat. Habitat loss has already led to the extinction of three species and several more are severely threatened. Hay meadows and clover leys are now seldom seen in today’s farmland, leaving little for bumblebees to feed on, so both farmers and conservationists need to do what they can to help. A legume-rich seed mixture was used in the meadow to create a habitat which allows bumblebees to thrive.’’

Dr Dave Beaumont, head of reserves ecology for RSPB Scotland, also spoke out saying,

‘’helping bumblebees is an essential part of managing the ecosystem. The partnership with BBCT has allowed us to convert what was a normal-looking green field into a spectacular wild flower meadow that grabs all of the senses when you walk through it. The balance of nature can be very sensitive to disturbance. Bumblebees are often referred to as keystone species, because the loss of their pollination services could have a devastating impact on the ecosystem. By ensuring we have healthy bumblebee populations on our reserves, we ensure the habitat is healthy, which in turn is good for the birds.”

Great Yellow Bumblebee

Butterflies, hoverflies and other insects are also using the meadow - and the abundant bug life is benefiting the swallows and skylarks which feed on them. The most commonly quoted information, which is fast becoming a mantra for Bumblebee conservationists, is

Bumblebees are often referred to as key-stone species, because the loss of their pollination services could have a devastating impact on the whole ecosystem

Cardinal Bumblebee

Visitors to the site are fast beginning to realise that seeing and hearing a multitude of bumblebees, butterflies and hoverflies visiting the wild flower patchwork of reds, yellows and blues; And experiencing the almost forgotten scent of wildflowers in the air, evokes memories of a once common, now almost extinct habitat. This experience comes before any thought of the bumblebees for whom it was all created.

People are beginning to realise we can’t ignore what is happening around us for ever. The delicate balance of nature is very sensitive to disturbance and change.

The involvement of the RSPB in bumblebee preservation and conservation is understandable when we think about the consequences of NOT taking conservation action. By ensuring bumblebee populations on our reserves multiply and remain healthy, we ensure the habitat itself is healthy, which in turn is very good for the birds.