Bumblebees
The Lifecycle
Bumblebee colonies are started anew at the beginning of each season by a single queen which has hibernated in the ground during the winter. While there may be plenty of potential nest sites – whether or not the colony survives the first few weeks will depend on the quality of the surrounding forage.
The colony needs both nectar as a fuel for the adult and pollen for the developing larvae. Bumblebees will fly half a mile or more to find these, searching for new supplies when the old ones run out.
At the end of its life, the colony produces new males and females; and after mating, the new queens hibernate.
National Bumblebee Working Group
The Romney Marsh has been one of a few areas which are developing different seed mixes, cutting regimes on clover grass margins at the edge of arable fields specifically for bumblebees.
The RMCP has worked alongside The Bumblebee Conservation Trust to increase the number of wildflower areas for pollinators. This can be achieved by seeding native wildflowers across areas on the Marsh, as well as managing wildflower habitats (preventing scrub/grass encroachment).
