Join Skills for Bees: Scotland Project Officer, Annie, for rare species survey day, searching for the scarce Broken-belted bumblebee (Bombus soroeensis) and Moss-carder bumblebees (Bombus muscorum). This day will form one of our targeted surveys in an area that has been identified as a priority for surveying. The data that we collect during these field sessions will help fill our knowledge gaps and could help inform future conservation work to help bumblebees in the Cairngorms.

The day will begin with a quick in-the-field recap on our rare target species and how to identify them. We will then spend the rest of the day surveying for bumblebees, focusing our search on Devil's bit Scabious grasslands that our rare bumblebee species prefer. Exact locations will be confirmed nearer the time. To get the most out of the field session, you will have already attended one of our bumblebee identification classroom sessions, either online, or in-person. This survey day will require a reasonable level of fitness, as we may be walking across rough ground although we will try to stick to paths and trails where possible.

Please note that this field session is planned to be outdoors and therefore subject to reasonable weather. The field session may be cancelled or re-arranged at short notice if the forecast is not bumblebee-friendly!

Our survey days are aimed at an adult audience. Older children with an interest in bumblebees and natural history are welcome, but any under 18s must be accompanied by their responsible adult at all times.

Our free training courses form a series of events this summer - please check our other listing for information on other training and survey days: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/skills-for-bees-scotland-bbct-40313602583

Please be aware that at this event, we may be catching (and releasing) bumblebees to take a closer look for identification purposes. We may also be looking at dead bumblebees from an extensive, historical reference collection which was donated to the project for educational purposes, and bees that have been killed humanely in addition to those which have died naturally.

If you have any questions about the day, please email annie.ives@bumblebeeconservation.org.

Skills for Bees: Scotland is a Bumblebee Conservation Trust project which aims to promote bumblebee surveying and monitoring in the Cairngorms National Park.

Through online workshops, in-person field surveys and continuing support for volunteers, Skills for Bees: Scotland will upskill people living in, working in and generally enjoying the Cairngorms National Park to look out for and look after bumblebees.

This event is free to attend thanks to the generosity of our supporters, including funding from NatureScot, The Cairngorms Trust & Cairngorms National Park Authority.

To be kept up to date with our news and events schedule, please sign up to the Skills for Bees: Scotland project newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/hRCsAT