Page 2 - Bumblebee Conservation Trust Member Magazine Spring 2020

Spring 2020 introduction
Contents The bumble blog Your photo gallery
If you would like to see your
Communities 3. Bumble blog photo featured in Buzzword,
please email: media@
4. Gardening spotlight
and well-being 6. Researching pollinator flower choice 2020 Annual General Meeting bumblebeeconservation.org

using DNA metabarcoding
(AGM) and Supporters day
8. What’s the buzz in the West Country? We are delighted to announce our 2020 AGM and
It’s a really challenging time right now but 10. Bumblebee Lettings Supporters day will be held on Saturday 17 October in
I hope you are all managing to find some 12. Working with prisons to increase habitat the Garden Suite of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
happiness in the natural world. for bumblebees
Where I am the big queen bumblebees 14. How ‘Bee Kind’ pottery is inspiring the Our guest speaker will be Professor Dave Goulson,
founder of the Trust. The day will start at 9.30am and
are out and that is a joy to watch. Spring amateur gardener finish by 4.15pm and will include a finger buffet.
flowers are everywhere and the sun has 15. Working with disabled volunteers
finally arrived. It won’t be long before There will be a member only booking period prior to the
worker bumblebees are flying around and 16. Position insight: Honeybees Q&A main booking event to ensure as many of our members
that familiar ‘sound of summer’ is with us 18. Working with golf courses to improve as possible can enjoy the day. We hope you will join us!
again. Something to look forward to as bumblebee habitat Further details will be provided on our website and the
we all work to care for ourselves and our 19. BeeWalks and bumblebee blitzes from member portal, including the schedule of events in due
families. Bangor to Bridgend course, at www.bumblebeeconservation.org/agm/
Early on in my career with the Trust, I 20. Membership is going green!
remember being involved with ‘incredible 21. Insect A&E
edible Todmorden’. A group of people in
the community started growing fruit, herbs 22. Trust News
and vegetables around Todmorden that
were for everyone to share. They also
ran a wide range of events that helped
strengthen the local community, and I am 8 14 16 19
pleased to say this activity is still going Bumblebees - An introduction
strong today. The benefits to pollinators,
to the local community and businesses Get in touch Don’t forget to brush up on your Bee ID skills with
are huge. A really uplifting and motivating our fantastic book written by Trust staff. Perfect
short video about Todmorden can be Post Bumblebee Conservation Trust, for beginners learning to identify the bumblebee
found here: www.incredible-edible- Beta Centre, Stirling University species they see, even if it is just in your garden!
todmorden.co.uk/blogs/front-row-films- Innovation Park, Stirling FK9 4NF You can order yours at www.
an-incredible-town. I urge you to watch, bumblebeeconservation.
maybe it will inspire you to start something Phone 01786 594 130 org/product/new-
in your community. bumblebees-an-
Email introduction/
enquiries@bumblebeeconservation.org
volunteering@bumblebeeconservation.org
membership@bumblebeeconservation.org
media@bumblebeeconservation.org

Gill Perkins, CEO
Cover picture
2 Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus Saving the sound of summer! 3 3
terrestris) by Kate Jaconello