On 7th June I will set off on my 'North-bumble-land Walk', walking 70 miles along the Northumberland Coastal Path from Cresswell to Berwick-upon-Tweed, to raise awareness of bumblebees and Bumblebee Conservation Trust's inspiring work to protect them.

Along the way I will be setting out in search of bumblebees, recording my sightings for NHSN's North East Bee Hunt, and hope to help increase our understanding of Northumberland's coastal bumblebees.

I am absolutely bonkers about bumblebees! Nothing quite beats the joy of seeing (and hearing the buzz of!) my first queen in spring. It was through BBCT that I learnt about the wonderful world of bumblebees, their importance and sadly their plight - but also about what we can all do to give them a helping hand.

The UK has lost 97% of wildflower meadows in the last century. This devastating loss of habitat, combined with climate change and exposure to pesticides, means bumblebees are struggling to survive. Two bumblebee species have become extinct, and a further eight species require urgent and targeted conservation.

By supporting my ‘Pollin8 Challenge’ and donating to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, you will be helping to:

🐝 Create and conserve wildflower habitats for bumblebees

🐝 Conduct research to understand bumblebee trends

🐝 Influence environmental policy to protect bumblebees

🐝 Inspire people to take action for our bumblebee pollinators

Every single donation, no matter the size, helps us fight for a better future for them, and us!

Thank you 🐝