Help bees and other pollinating insects by getting involved with monitoring and citizen science schemes.
1. Flower-Insect Timed Count
Level: Bee-ginner - Experienced
Species: All bee species and other pollinating insects
Get involved: Via the website
Help the government’s Pollinator Monitoring Scheme by taking part in the Flower-Insect Timed Count. This is a quick and easy way to survey the pollinators on your patch.
It’s perfect for beginners, since you don’t need to identify particular species. It’s a great way to learn about pollinator diversity too.
Simply pick a patch of flowers and record the types of pollinators that visit over 10 minutes. Full guidance is provided on the Pollinator Monitoring Scheme website.
2. iRecord
Level: Intermediate - Experienced
Species: All bee species and much more besides
Get involved: Via the website or app
If you know the species of bees you’ve seen, you can submit your photos and records to iRecord, where they'll be verified by experts. These records will feed into the National Biodiversity Network Atlas, where they'll be used by the Pollinator Monitoring Scheme.
If you’re not confident identifying bees, get advice from the experts at iSpot or the UK Bees, Wasps and Ants Facebook page to help identify your find from a photo, then upload it to iRecord once you have your answer.
3. Blooms for Bees
Level: Intermediate - Experienced
Species: Bumblebees
Get involved: Via the app
Use the Blooms for Bees citizen science app to survey which flowers in your garden or allotment the bumblebees like to visit. The app and website include a detailed ID guide to the UK’s bumblebee species.
4. BeeWalk
Level: Experienced
Species: Bumblebees
Get involved: Via the website
If you’re an experienced bumblebee identifier, you can help the Bumblebee Conservation Trust assess the state of the UK’s bumblebees by taking a monthly BeeWalk. Training events are also provided if you’d like to arm yourself with the ID skills to take part.
