Buzzing? Or not? – Rare NC500 Bumblebees need your help
Regular visitors and residents all along the North Coast 500 know all about these places. They don’t always tell, however, about the very special sites that most people drive through on their visits here. I’m not talking about the wide-open vistas you see through your motorcycle visor as you wind round each bend, each which seems more beautiful than the last you took in. I’m not talking about the breath-taking, expansive landscapes you experience from the interior of your hire vehicle, knowing that there is so much more to come. These are all wonderful – but I want to encourage you to stop a while, here and there, and take in some small, amazing details.
Small details such as the rare and beautiful wildlife here. I want to tell you about a particularly beautiful and iconic insect, on the mainland found only in the remote places along the NC500. This year, Bumblebee Conservation Trust have a big ask of visitors to the NC500 route. Can you help us find the last mainland populations of this rare bee? It’s distinctive – and we need to know where it still exists so we can prevent its extinction.
The Great Yellow bumblebee is a small creature, with a big name. We’ve been following the state of its populations as best we can, and we know it’s declined massively. However, we are a small charity with a big remit, and we could use your help – if you are able. We’ve come uwith locations where we are particularly interested to find this Great Yellow, but they are quite remote from our volunteers and recorders. Can you help? We need people to look and record any sightings they find in particular areas.
Visit the Bumblebee Conservation Trust website for full details of how and where to look and record your findings and take part in our Great Big Great Yellow Bumblebee Hunt!
