Bilberry Bumblebees, Bunting, Biscuits, Bakes and Bombs!

Sunday, October 2nd 2022

Yesterday was a fun filled day at the reserve to celebrate the Great Big Green Week and to raise awareness about the rare Bilberry Bumblebee that we hope to attract to Foxglove in the near future. The Bilberry Bumblebee is a particularly attractive bumblebee, with bright yellow bands on the thorax and a rich orange-red tail covering around two-thirds of the abdomen. It is a localised and declining species, found almost exclusively on moorland in association with stands of Bilberry.

As there are no recorded Bilberry Bumblebees at the reserve yet there was a treasure trail in the picnic area and those that spotted the Bilberry Bee on a wooden disc were rewarded with a chocolate bee! Slates that had been beautifully decorated by local scout groups were placed along the easy access trail for people to spot as they enjoyed the autumn sunshine. There were lots of hands-on activities for all ages; the messy ones were done outside (until it became too windy) and included making leaf bunting, wildflower seed bombs and solitary bee hotels.

Indoors, local beekeeper Alison showed people how to make a beeswax candle.

Children's activities indoors also including making bee puppets, masks and wooden medals.

Cath from the Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust was on hand to talk about bumblebee surveys and to give tips on identifying the different bumblebee species.

This species is very rare!

Special thanks go to Lizzie Rumble (RSPB volunteer) who not only organised the day but baked enough cakes and biscuits to keep everyone going!

Thank you too to everyone who made the day possible from planning and running activities to baking, serving teas and washing up. We are very grateful to all of the organisations who were involved; the RSPB, Whashton Wildlife and the YDMT and to the Co-op for donating wildflower seed cards.

Not forgetting all of the generous support from the members of public who came along on the day. Please put any photographs that you have from the event on our Facebook page and keep an eye out on our events page as there will be a Bilberry planting day coming up soon to create the perfect habitat to attract the Bilberry Bumblebee.

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