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97% of ancient flower meadows have disappeared in the UK and with them, bumblebee species have gone extinct. Nikki is restoring them and their habitat.

Nikki Gammans

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'Extinct' short-haired bumblebee returns to UK

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Short-haired bumblebee makes a UK comeback after 25 years

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The Birds and the Bees

Donate to Nikki - An Entomologist Saving Bumblebees

SDG 15 Life on Land

Nikki is an Entomologist running the Short-haired bumblebee reintroduction project. Thanks to her work, native bumblebees have returned to areas of the UK where they previously have been extinct for the past 25 years. 

**Social insects**
From a young age of been interested in conservation and ecology and as a teen, I got interested in the social insects. The genetics, the evolution and very complex system of these insects are just fascinating and that led me to do my PhD about them. In 2009 I became involved in the Short-haired bumblebee reintroduction project. 

**Plight of the bumblebee**
In the UK alone, we’ve have lost the horrific 97 % of flower meadows due to the increase of agriculture, leaving this species-rich habitat patchy and destroyed. The short-haired bumblebee was last seen in the UK 1988 and was declared extinct in the UK in 2000. It was really crushing and hugely concerning. 

**Bringing back bumblebees**
Bumblebees are pollinators, and they're responsible for pollinating over about 10% of the world’s crops. So that's a significant amount. We cannot allow any more of these species to go extinct. The Short-haired bumblebee reintroduction project aims to reintroduce this lost species to the UK, raise awareness of bumblebee and flower meadow declines, increase resident rare bumblebee populations, and recreate and give advice on managing and maintaining flower-rich areas. 


Nikki is an Entomologist running the Short-haired bumblebee reintroduction project. Thanks to her work, native bumblebees have returned to areas of the UK where they previously have been extinct for the past 25 years.

Social insects
From a young age of been interested in conservation and ecology and as a teen, I got interested in the social insects. The genetics, the evolution and very complex system of these insects are just fascinating and that led me to do my PhD about them. In 2009 I became involved in the Short-haired bumblebee reintroduction project.

Plight of the bumblebee
In the UK alone, we’ve have lost the horrific 97 % of flower meadows due to the increase of agriculture, leaving this species-rich habitat patchy and destroyed. The short-haired bumblebee was last seen in the UK 1988 and was declared extinct in the UK in 2000. It was really crushing and hugely concerning.

Bringing back bumblebees
Bumblebees are pollinators, and they're responsible for pollinating over about 10% of the world’s crops. So that's a significant amount. We cannot allow any more of these species to go extinct. The Short-haired bumblebee reintroduction project aims to reintroduce this lost species to the UK, raise awareness of bumblebee and flower meadow declines, increase resident rare bumblebee populations, and recreate and give advice on managing and maintaining flower-rich areas.


97 % of ancient flower meadows have disappeared in the UK and with them, bumblebee species have gone extinct. Nikki is bringing back native bumblebees and restoring their habitat.

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bumblebees

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