The UK has 24 native species of bumblebee, of which two have become extinct within the past 70 years. A further six are critically endangered and on the list of UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species.

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is based in Scotland and has hosted a variety of events, built an interactive website, provided training in bumblebee identification and habitat-management techniques and promoted bumblebee gardening. ‘Beewatch’, a national bumblebee survey, generated over 5,000 records in its first year. A bumblebee reserve, thought to be the first of its kind in the world, was also created near Perth and Kinross to help boost their numbers.

This three-year project had four main aims – to:

• promote awareness of bumblebee conservation issues and wildlife gardening activities
• employ a part-time conservation officer for three years to facilitate the participation of communities in conservation activities and educate the public about the issues facing these species
• teach people about bumblebees, how to identify them and set up a volunteer bumblebee recording network
• advertise activities through articles in the media (newspapers, radio and TV)