Millennium trust gets a buzz out of new initiative

That is one of the questions that may be answered with the help of a project run by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) to build up a picture of bumblebee populations in the meadows.

As part of YDMT’s Buzz in the Meadows, project officer Tanya St Pierre trained a small team of volunteers in the science of bumblebee identification.

In the first initiative of its kind in the Dales, the volunteers carried out weekly or fortnightly surveys in some of the few remaining traditional wildflower hay meadows in the area, including at Grassington, Lower Winskill, Colt Park at the foot of Ingleborough, Askrigg Bottoms and Muker.

Their findings will now be added to the national records maintained by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, and also widely distributed among the farming community and conservation professionals, with a view to influencing policy and managing hay meadows as a habitat for bumblebees into the future.

One of the issues addressed in the surveys was the number of bumblebees found in the hay meadows the YDMT has restored, as well in the existing traditional meadows. "Is the restoration work helping by increasing diversity? What impact is our restoration work having?" said Tanya.

The background to the work is a dramatic decline in both the insects and in environments with a rich diversity of plant life, such as traditional hay meadows.

In recent decades two species of Britain’s bumblebees have become extinct, whilst the remaining 24 species have shown a dramatic decline, some by as much as 80 per cent.

The statistics are largely due to habitat loss. Since the 1930s, 97 per cent of the UK’s wildflower hay meadows - an area the size of Wales - has been lost. Only 1,000 hectares of upland hay meadow now survive in the UK, of which about 50 per cent are found in the upland dales of North Yorkshire, Cumbria and County Durham.

However, since 2006, the trust has worked with farmers to help to restore the botanical diversity of almost 400 hectares of upland hay meadows to their former glory. That figure will soon stand at well over 450 hectares - which is why the project has partly focused on the impact of the restored meadows and their importance for bumblebees and other pollinators.

The feeding habits of 614 bumblebees, comprising ten different individual species, were recorded during the survey period.

They were noted visiting 21 different wildflower species across the five survey sites. The bright pink/purple blooms of Red Clover were found to be the most popular by far, and regular visits to Yellow Rattle, Meadow Buttercup, White Clover, Eyebright and Selfheal were also recorded by the volunteers as the bumblebees foraged during the summer months.

Many other less-common flower native species also proved to be valuable sources of nectar and pollen for the bumblebees, including Wood Crane’s-bill, Bistort, Devil's-bit Scabious and Melancholy Thistle, confirming that the unique botanical diversity of wildflower hay meadows are very special and valuable natural resources.

Tanya said: “Spotting the very rare Mountain bumblebee (Bombus monticola), also known as the Bilberry bumblebee, was the highlight for me. It was recorded on eight occasions from mid-June to late July at Colt Park, where it was seen feeding largely on Yellow Rattle, together with Red Clover, White Clover and Bird’s Foot Trefoil.

"I really hope that we will be able to repeat the survey next year - it will be fascinating to compare the results year-on-year.

"This project wouldn’t have been possible without the help of our team of volunteers, so I’d like to say a big thank-you for all their hard work this summer.”

The trust would like to hear from anyone interested in becoming a volunteer to help with bumblebee surveying in 2015. No previous experience is required as full training will be provided.

Tanya said the YDMT intended to repeat the surveys next year, though this did depend on funding.

To get involved, call her on 015242 51002 or email tanya.stpierre@ydmt.org