The short-haired bumblebee project is pleased to announce it completed its fourth year of queen release on the 1st June. It was a late spring in Sweden this year which delayed the team in going over to collect emerging queens from hibernation. Most of April and May weather conditions were below 14 degrees with an icy wind from the arctic. Short-haired bumblebee queens will tend to emerge over 17-18 degrees. Whilst collection had begun the temperature did reach the latter and we were able to increase the number collected. Once collection had ceased the team drove the queens back to the UK and delivered them to Royal Holloway University of London where they began two weeks of quarantine. During this time the queens are checked for any diseases or parasites. Any infected queens cannot be released and most will die during this time.
On Monday morning all healthy queens were picked up from quarantine and driven to their new home in Dungeness, Kent. From midday the queens were released by project volunteers and supporters into their new environment. RSPB Dungeness is the perfect location for the release as it contains an abundance of suitable forage for this species and other rare bumblebees. The queens were released onto red clover, birds foot trefoil, white dead nettle, fox gloves and thrift. The project will now begin to walk surveys to try and records the queens along with other rare bumblebee species.
The project works with over 70 farmers and 25 land owners across Dungeness and Romney Marsh to improve, recreate and restoration flower rich habitat. To date over 1,000 hectares has been improved. Population of three other section 41/Biodiversity Action Plan species have also greatly benefitted from this work and a further two have been recorded more often as a result.
You can also follow the project on twitter @nikkigammans and facebook The short-haired bumblebee project for regular updates. The short-haired bumblebee project was formed by RSPB, Natural England, Hymettus and is led by Bumblebee Conservation Trust.