Bumblebee Identification & Surveying at Muir of Dinnet

Did you know there are 20 different bumblebee species found in Scotland?

Join Annie Ives from Bumblebee Conservation Trust in National Insect Week 2025, on this identification workshop and rare species survey day.

We'll spend the morning in the classroom, developing your bumblebee identification skills, focusing on some of our rarer species in the area, and learning more about how we can all help these important wild pollinators by reporting bumblebee sightings.

Later, we'll take your classroom-learned bumblebee identification skills outside. Practice your field skills, learn how best to record your finds and contribute important scientific data to fill our knowledge gaps about bumblebees in the Cairngorms National Park. We'll be looking out for the scarce Blaeberry bumblebee (Bombus monticola) as well as adding records for common species too.

Please bring suitable clothing for the afternoon, including walking shoes.

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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 We may also be looking at dead bumblebees from an extensive, historical reference collection which was donated to the project for educational purposes, and bees that have been killed humanely in addition to those which have died naturally.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 YW5uaWUgISBpdmVzIHwgYnVtYmxlYmVlY29uc2VydmF0aW9uICEgb3Jn.

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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 Cairngorms National Park Authority, Cairngorms Trust & NatureScot. Car parking charges may apply.

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

Also check out other Workshops in Alford, Virtual events in Alford.