Aims of the Club: Bumblebees are among the most endearing and familiar of our insects. The sight and sound of bees droning methodically from flower to flower is a quintessential part of a summer’s day. Sadly, changes to the farmed countryside have not been kind to our bumblebees. The number of species found in most of lowland Britain has halved since 1950. Three species have gone nationally extinct and several more may follow in the near future unless we act quickly. We aim to prevent further declines, and to raise awareness of the problems bumblebees face.

Conservation: Encouraging farmers to adopt Defra's Entry-Level Stewardship Scheme (ELS) and allow wildlife back onto farms. Establishing reserves in sensitive areas to protect threatened species. Campaigning against developments that threaten important habitats. Highlighting the illegal use of non-native bees for pollination. Advising landowners and reserve wardens on conservation issues.

Membership: We now have over 1,600 members ranging from enthusiastic and concerned amateurs right through to internationally renowned research scientists. All of us share a common affection for these affable insects and a desire to see them conserved for future generations. New members recieve our regular newsletter ("Buzzword", ( image left), a bumblebee identification poster, a packet of wildflower seeds, a BBCT Window sticker, and a first edition bumblebee pin-badge - all from just 9GBP/year! Please join today and help to make things change...

Education: Our activities are co-ordinated from offices at the University of Stirling. Our newsletter is full of interesting facts and information. Our events and activities teach people more about bumblebees. We give talks and run events for interested groups and schools.

Gardening for Bumblebees: Gardens now provide a valuable flower-rich refuge in an impoverished landscape, and as a result have become a stronghold for some bumblebee species. Depending on where you live, and what flowers you grow, you may see up to a dozen bumblebee species in your garden. Even a casual inspection of flowers in a garden or park will reveal several very differently coloured bumblebees. In fact six or seven species can be found in almost any reasonable-sized garden, and if the right sorts of plants are grown this total can be doubled.

Website: Our interactive and colourful website, at www.bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk, is an excellent resource for interested parties, and contains a wealth of information on bumblebees, including bumbleebee identification, where to see rare bees, a 'bee-friendly' wild flower list for your garden, and bumblebee conservation.