Green Lanes for Bumblebees

green-lanes-for-bumblebees

Romney Marsh is home to 5 of the 6 rarest UK bumblebee species but populations may be fragmented. Dungeness is also the site of the Short-haired Bumblebee Reintroduction project the first ever reintroduction of an extinct Bumblebee species back into the UK. The Green lanes Project is building on the work done within this reintroduction programme to map bumblebee habitats across the marsh and work to improve habitat connectivity by establishing new wildflower corridors and teaching people about these important species.

Each year the project is funding a graduate trainee to undertake surveys, recruit and lead volunteers and engage with landowners on ways to improve habitats for Bumblebees. This project has clear synergies with the Blue Lanes project as it too is building connectivity within the landscape and provides another layer to the diversity of Romney Marsh.

Green Lanes for Bumblebees to Restore project theme.

There are lots of opportunities to get involved, from surveying to practical habitat management. No experience necessary but lots of opportunities to learn more about bees and get out and about in the countryside.

Visit the volunteering page to find out more about getting involved with Fifth Continent projects.

2019

Feb 2019

New Trainee Appointed

New project trainee appointed and will starting in April. In this third year of the traineeship she will be collating all the data gathered so far and continuing to enhance the area for pollinators.

2018

Dec 2018

Ditch works working party

With the help of volunteers, planted Yellow Flag Iris and Purple Loosestrife along the banks of the restored ditch, which helps with the diversity along the ditch and increases the amount of flowering plants for bumblebees.

Nov 2018

Helping insect pollinators

15 Nov: Morning spent with colleagues from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust & Shepway day care centre. Planting out over 250 bulbs and creating a wild flower patch. Thanks Ivychurch Parish Council for letting us use this area to help insect pollinators.

Nov 2018

Third year trainee placement update

The advertisement for the third year trainee placement will go live in mid-December, with a closing date of 18 January. Planned start is in April 2019.

Oct 2018

Trainee placement update

Second year trainee (Lucia Chmurova) has completed her placement and is going on to work on another lottery project in Kent called ‘Kent’s Magnificent Moths’. The advertisement for the third year trainee will go out in January 2019, with a planned start in April.

Jun 2018

Bumblebee event

Bumblebee event for families at Romney Marsh Visitor Centre took place on Sunday 24 June. Stall set up ready to go!

May 2018

Report on BBC

16 May: BBC South East Today broadcast an item on promoting the Green Lanes for Bumblebees project – the focus of the item is on improving roadside verges for pollinators along ‘B’ roads.

May 2018

Bumblebee event in June

Bumblebee event for families being planned at Romney Marsh Visitor Centre on Sunday 24 June

Apr 2018

New Project Trainee

Lucia Chmurova has been appointed as the new Project Trainee. Lucia will continue the project of mapping wildflower areas, as well as working with partners and volunteers to create new wildflower areas attractive to Bumblebees.

Feb 2018

Recruiting for the next project trainee

We are currently recruiting for the next project trainee to start in early April. Lucy Witter (last years’ trainee) has started her PhD looking at seed mixes for pollinators – see her blog here.

Visit our Blog & News page.

It is planned to create a number of short films about Romney Marsh during the life of the scheme and this will include recording the progress of the projects. Go to the film footage page to get details of the films we have produced so far.

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To find out more including how to get involved contact the project team.