Project Aims to Aid One of UK's Most Threatened Bumblebee Species

A collaborative project is underway to assist one of the United Kingdom's most endangered bumblebee species. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust, in partnership with the University of Cambridge, is leading a three-year, £907,000 initiative aimed at recovering the Moss carder bumblebee.

The project will concentrate its efforts on specific landscapes in Cornwall, Kent, and the North Pennines. In Cornwall, the focus will be on coastal grasslands, dunes, and heathland. In Kent, the project will address grazing marshes and sea walls, while the North Pennines will see efforts centered on its upland fringe landscapes.

Conservationists plan to collaborate with landowners to test small-scale habitat interventions. The goal is to identify effective methods for supporting the species while also improving the understanding of the Moss carder's behavior and ecological needs.

According to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Moss carder bumblebees are predominantly found in small, isolated populations. The species is distinguished by a dense, velvety covering of ginger-yellow hairs across its body, with no black hairs present. The trust suggests that habitat loss and fragmentation have a particularly significant impact on this species, as it tends to forage closer to its nest compared to many other bumblebees.

"This is a hugely exciting and ambitious three-year project that gives us a real opportunity to turn the tide for one of the UK's rarest bumblebees," said Amy Plowman, head of conservation and science at the trust.

Natural England's Species Recovery Programme is contributing over £530,000 in funding to the project. Tylan Berry, a senior officer for Natural England's species and nature recovery networks, stated that the Species Recovery Programme facilitates practical actions to halt species decline and support nature recovery across England.

Berry characterized the Moss carder as "one of England's most threatened pollinators," adding that "Projects like this demonstrate how targeted investment can support practical conservation action on the ground."