So… Apparently the National Lottery Good Causes people are having a competition to find who we, the voting public, in our munificence and wisdom, think is the most deserving cause in a number of categories. You may think that it’s their job to decide this, weighing the evidence of carefully prepared submissions, rather than leaving it to us to figure out which seems most photogenic, or anthropomorphic, or simply cute.
High in the first and last of those, is the BumbleBee Conservation Trust (BBCT) - the link takes you to the National Lottery page. Here’s a bit of what it says there:
In the last 70 years, two bumblebee species have become nationally extinct and many others have declined dramatically. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust was founded in 2006 to raise awareness of what Director Dr Ben Darvill calls, “the plight of the bumblebee”. Set up with Lottery funding, which was used to cover running and staff costs, the Trust has grown rapidly. It now has over 6,000 members and its message has reached about 10 million people, Ben estimates, through extensive media coverage and direct outreach work.
Bees are vital to the conservation and diversity of British wildlife as they pollinate fruit, vegetables, flowers and plants. “Without bees,” says Ben, “much of the beauty and richness would be lost and our dinner plates would be very uninspiring.” But thanks to declining populations and habitats, a world without bumblebees is looking more likely.
To raise awareness about bee conservation, and to encourage the public to get involved, the Trust takes its message to events like the Hampton Court Flower Show. With someone dressed as a giant bee to attract children, and information for the adults, its stalls always make an impact. It also works with farmers, land managers and policymakers to improve bumblebee habitats, and gives talks to people interested in making their gardens bee-friendly.
If you’re keen, head over there, watch the video, and then go and look at the other entrants before voting. But do vote. Why not? Make it your good deed for the day…
