Learn about bumblebee ecology and how to identify cuckoo bumblebees and threatened species in Kent, both inside and outside the classroom

The course will begin with a recap on the biology and ecology of bumblebees, why they need conserving and the behaviour of cuckoo bumblebees. After a break, we will then go through how to identify the cuckoo species and those less common in the South East and how to contribute to their recording.

Weather allowing, after lunch the group will go into the grounds with collecting equipment to catch and identify live bumblebees.

By the end of the day, it is expected that participants should:

Understand more about the lifecycle, behaviour and ecology of bumblebees, including cuckoo species

Be able to identify the less common species in the South East

Understand the pressures on threatened species

Know where to look for more information on identification and conservation

Improvers – knowledge of common bumblebee species and their identification

Led by Simon Springate, Kent’s Plan Bee Officer and a BeeWalk volunteer for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust for over 15 years.

Photo: humilis queen bumblebee (Nikki Gammans)

For further information, please visit the Study Days page of the Kent Wildlife Trust website.

Description supplied by the event organiser.