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Threatened bumblebees make a comeback
The five most threatened bumblebees in England have made an unprecedented comeback in the South East this year thanks to environmental work by farmers.
By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent
Published: 3:19PM BST 05 Oct 2010
A Shrill carder bumblebee Photo: RSPB
The large garden bumblebee, the shrill carder bee, the red shanked carder bee, the moss carder bee and the brown banded carder bee are all considered under threat. The species have suffered from intensive farming, that means there are less wildflowers and the spread of towns and cities.
However environmental schemes that pay farmers to plant wild flowers on field margins and use less chemicals mean many of the species are being seen once again. The shrill carder bee is being seen in areas of Sussex and Kent where it has not been recorded for 25 years.
The UK currently has 24 bumblebee species but many are endangered. In the last 70 years two species became extinct. Richard Benyon, the environment minister said many more species could recover numbers with more bee-friendly planting by farmers, councils and the general public. “Bumblebees play a vital role in helping to produce our food by pollinating crops.
The decline in the number of bees is a concern for the long-term future of farming, so it is great to hear that the creation of these wildlife habitats has resulted in increased numbers of so many species of rare bumblebees. These results show the benefit of agri-environment schemes and the role farmers play in protecting and improving our wildlife.”
