News

A bumblebee which died out in the UK, but survived in New Zealand after being shipped there more than a hundred years ago, is to be reintroduced here under plans announced today.

Small populations of the short-haired bumblebee were established on the South Island of New Zealand after being transported there on the first refrigerated lamb boats in the late 19th century to pollinate crops of red clover.

It became extinct in the UK in 2000, but the populations on the other side of the world have clung on.

Now Natural England, along with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT), the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and bee charity Hymettus, have launched a scheme to bring the species home.

Poul Christensen, Natural England's acting chairman, said: "Bumblebees are suffering unprecedented international declines and drastic action is required to aid their recovery.

"This international rescue mission has two aims - to restore habitat in England, thereby giving existing bees a boost; and to bring the short-haired bumblebee home where it can be protected."

Insects will be collected in New Zealand and a captive breeding plan established, with a view to releases of the bees from 2010 at Dungeness, where they were last seen.

The scheme's project officer Nikki Gammans said the bumblebee was a "keystone species" which was vital for ecosystems and were key to pollinating around 80% of important crops here.

Dr Gammans said she had received a fantastic response from local farmers in Romney Marsh, who recognised the value of the bumblebee as a key pollinator of crops.

And the RSPB reserve at Dungeness, one of the last remaining areas where the short-haired bumblebee existed before becoming extinct, had lots of native wildflowers and been managed for red clover which is 'fantastic' for bees.

The bees will be flown back on planes in cool boxes and will not suffer from jet lag, according to Natural England, as they will be in hibernation during transit, and will "never notice a thing."

It is hoped the reintroduced bees will not go the way of those which disappeared from this country, because of the efforts to restore habitat on farms in the South East and on the reserve at Dungeness.

The RSPB's Malcolm Ausden said that as the reserve was the last place the short-haired bumblebee was seen - in 1988, before being declared extinct in 2000 - it was fitting there should be attempts to reintroduce it there now.

He added: "The site is a haven for bumblebees and a huge amount of work has been done to improve the site for them and encourage the flowering plants they love."