A rare Brown-banded carder bee (Bombus humilis) has been discovered at the Carmel National Nature Reserve near Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire.
Situated on a limestone ridge, the area was historically used for quarrying and traditional agriculture, is one of the UK’s richest wildlife areas and an internationally significant site.
The resulting mixture of ancient meadows and woodlands, quarries, spoil heaps and lime kilns was declared a national nature reserve in 1999.
Carmel is managed by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and The Grasslands Trust.
Bumblebee numbers have suffered sharp decline due to intensive agricultural practices leading to a 97% loss of traditional habitat and food resources.
In speaking of the project, The Grasslands Trust CEO Lucy Cooper said: “This is incredibly exciting news for us and is an excellent example of public and charitable funds being put to good use for the benefit of people and wildlife. Bumblebees are essential for pollination and play an intrinsic role in the provision of ecosystem services vital to maintain life in our ever-increasingly industrialised world.”
Dr Ben Darvill, CEO of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust said: "The UK's farmed landscape is largely brown or green. It never used to be that way. A visit to Carmel in the summer months reveals the full palette of natural colours, with wall-to-wall wildflowers and the uplifting buzz of bees. Hopefully this conservation work will inspire others to create vibrant meadows on their doorsteps."
Realted:
Comments