Wildlife

Wild Bumblebee Colony Welfare UK

Bumblebee colony welfare is supported by diverse wildflower habitats providing continuous forage from spring through autumn.

Key Facts

UK has 24 native bumblebee species, of which six have declined severely
Bumblebee colonies range from dozens to hundreds of workers
Continuous forage from spring queens to autumn mating flight is essential
Agricultural intensification removing wildflower habitats is the primary decline driver
Garden wildflower patches provide significant forage value for local colonies

Welfare Considerations

Bumblebee welfare considerations centre on colony-level resource availability. Foraging workers that cannot find nectar and pollen experience physiological stress. Landscape-scale wildflower habitat restoration and garden-scale wildflower planting together create the connectivity needed for colony welfare and population recovery.

What You Can Do

Plant a wildflower patch in your garden for native bumblebees
Support agri-environment schemes creating wildflower-rich habitats
Record bumblebee species through BeeWalk or similar monitoring programs