One of Natur Am Byth projects is the ‘Saving the Shrill Carder Bee in Wales’ project led by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. The project leads the conservation efforts for the UK’s most threatened bumblebee, the Shrill Carder Bee.
The Shrill carder bee is now found in just a few small populations, including three critical sites in South Wales; in Pembrokeshire, The Gwent Levels, and Kenfig. Known for its distinctive high-pitched buzz, the Shrill carder bee is one of the smallest species of bumblebee and has declined in recent decades due to the loss and fragmentation of vital flower rich habitats. The few remaining populations have become increasingly isolated from one another, and the Shrill carder bee is now vulnerable to inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity, increasing the risk of local extinction.
Through the SCB project, the team are also working to protect the Short-necked Oil Beetle (Castlemartin), the Goldilocks Aster and Pale Dog-violet.
In collaboration with project partners, incl. Gwent Wildlife Trust, National Trust and local authorities, the team work with landowners, delivering advice and training to ensure enduring, sustainable management practices. Activity also includes changes to grazing and mowing regimes, creating larger, more interconnected areas of wildflower habitats.
But Natur am Byth! is about more than just conservation. A critical goal of the project is to ensure that people across Wales feel that they belong in, enjoy and care for nature. The team communicate with the public and communities, engaging new audiences across Wales with this rare species.