Types of Bees
In the UK, bees fall into three main categories: honeybees, bumblebees, and solitary bees. Honeybees are mainly managed by beekeepers, while bumblebees and solitary bees are wild. With 24 bumblebee species and around 240 solitary bee species, our gardens and meadows are buzzing with diversity. Carder bees, like the Shrill Carder, are named for their unique nesting habits, where they use their legs to comb vegetation into nests.
Some of our rarest bumblebees, which can be found close to and maybe even in the Wye Valley National Landscape are:
The Shrill Carder Bee
This rare and vital pollinator is one of the UK’s most endangered bumblebees. With a foraging range of just 238 meters, it needs clusters of wildflower-rich areas. Emerging late in the season, it relies on late-flowering plants, but early mowing and habitat loss threaten its survival. Key locations for the Shrill Carder in Wales include the Gwent Levels, Kenfig National Nature Reserve, Pembrey Coast and South Pembrokeshire.
The Shrill Carder Bee is one of the smallest bees. It is straw-coloured with a reddish-orange tail, a black band between the wings and black stripes on the abdomen. It also has a high-pitched buzz. It has declined dramatically because it needs flower rich grassland, which has been declining, although wildflower meadows do remain in the National Landscape.
The Brown-Banded Carder Bee
The rare Brown-banded Carder is mainly found in coastal grasslands and brownfield sites from May to September. It nests on the ground in long grass or moss and sometimes uses old mouse burrows. Their diet includes clovers and knapweeds, but early autumn mowing can disrupt their nesting.
The Red-Shanked Carder Bee
Distinguished by its orange-red tail and legs, the Red-shanked Carder Bee forages close to its ground-level nest. It enjoys a varied diet of red clover, vetches, and knapweeds. Found in Central and South England, Wales, and the Inner Hebrides from April to August, this species helps sustain a healthy ecosystem.
Pollination is crucial for plant reproduction and supports 75% of our crops. Without it, our food supply and natural habitats would suffer.
It is widely recognised we’ve lost about 97% of flower-rich meadows over the past century, putting immense pressure on our bumblebee species. Habitat fragmentation and reduced forage from agricultural practices are major threats.
We work in partnership with local meadow groups such as Monmouthshire Meadows, Herefordshire Meadows and the Parish Grassland Project, as well as organisations such as the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to promote meadow restoration, creation and management.
We are collaborating with Bees for Development, who are running a series of bee walks to encourage bee recording across the Wye Valley National Landscape and beyond.
We have provided funding to support landowners to create wild flower rich habitats and continue to seek sources of funding to enable this vital work to take place across the landscape.
The Wye Valley National Landscape is an important place for Species Rich Grasslands, including small field patterns of un/semi-improved grassland. Grasslands with a diversity of grasses and flowers are vibrant, diverse ecosystems that support countless wildlife. They help combat climate change by sequestering carbon, maintain soil health, and prevent flooding. However, urbanization and intensive farming have drastically reduced these habitats, leading to a significant decline in pollinator populations. Join us in protecting these essential habitats and the bumblebees that depend on them!
