insideKENT Magazine Issue 26 - May 2014 | Page 134

OUTDOORLIVING bee kind with these tips from The Bumblebee Conservation Trust Nothing says summer has arrived more than the sound of bumblebees buzzing around flowers on a warm sunny day. Bumblebees are an essential part of the countryside, responsible for pollinating crops and wildflowers. BY ROSEMARY FREE White-tailed Bumblebee However, in the past 80 years, two of the 26 species in the UK have become extinct and several others are now extremely rare. As home to six of the country’s seven rarest bees, Kent has an important role to play in preserving the populations of these important pollinators. The Shrill carder bee – one of the most threatened bumblebee species in the UK – is now only found in seven locations, including North Kent. On the south coast of Kent, the Ruderal bumblebee has recently returned to Dungeness after a 10-year absence. Other scarce species found locally include the Brown-banded, Red-shanked and Moss carder bees. In addition, Kent and its neighbour East Sussex are home to a pioneering project, which aims to recreate flower-rich grassland in the Dungeness area and reintroduce the extinct Short-haired bumblebee to the UK. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT), which is one of the partners in the Short-haired bumblebee project, is now calling on gardeners to play their part by creating bee-friendly havens. "Kent is one of, if not the most, important counties in the country for bumblebees, with good populations of several of the rare species and the reintroduction of the Short-haired bumblebee," says Richard Comont, BBCT data monitoring officer. "The coastal habitat in Kent, from Dungeness round to the Thames estuary, is already brilliant Garden Bumblebee for bumblebees and we're working hard to make it even better. "Gardens can be a great resource for bumblebees – the bees need flowers from March to October, and increasingly gardens are the only places they can find enough to keep going. Wildlife-friendly gardening is often portrayed as untidy and nettle-filled, but bumblebees' main need is for flowers – nectar and pollen will keep them buzzing all summer." The queens from some species of bumblebee – such as the Buff-tailed and Tree bumblebee, will have already emerged from hibernation in the last couple of months and established their nests. Others, such as the Shrill carder, Brownbanded and Moss carder bees emerge from hibernation much later, usually in mid-to-late May. At this time of year, it is important to have spring plants that are rich in nectar and pollen, so that the queens can replenish their energy after a winter without food. However, before you head for your nearest garden centre, it is important to remember that not all flowers are suitable for bumblebees. Massproduced plants like pansies and double begonias don't offer much for bumblebees and other pollinators because they produce little or no pollen and nectar. Others, such as petunias, have flower shapes that bumblebees cannot access – either because the petals form long tunnels, which are too long or narrow for the 134 bees to feed from, or because they have multiple tightly packed heads. Instead, opt for plants that will provide plenty of nectar and pollen, but also have a variety of flower shapes to cater for the needs of different bee species. For long-tongued bumblebees – including the Shrill carder bee and other rare species – go for plants with tubular flowers such as aquilegia, foxglove and monkshood. Meanwhile, short-tongued bumblebees prefer open flowers such as raspberry, blackberry, white clover, thyme and small-flowered varieties of sweet peas, which offer lovely colours and scents. Summer is the time of the year when bumblebee workers stock up on pollen and nectar to feed the larvae and young bees in their growing colony. A plentiful supply of flowers will help increase the likelihood of a colony producing a new generation of bumblebees. Catmint, honeysuckle and viper’s bugloss are all popular with long-tongued species, while short-tongued bumblebees will feed on devil’s bit scabius, bird’s