🌼 Interested in pollinators or wildflowers? Curious about citizen science?Join us for a free Volunteer Taster Session in The Ridgeway, Thamesmead to learn how to identify common bumblebee and plant species and take part in guided BeeWalk and Wildflower surveys!🗓 Date & Time: Friday 26th September, meeting at 10:30 am and expecting to finish at 3:30pm.📍 Location: We will meet on Bazalgette Way, behind the Thamesmead Social Cafe, marked on the map in the event photos– SE2 9AN, What3Words:///opens.stem.daisy.The meeting point is an 18 minute walk from Abbeywood Train Station or 7 minute walk from Southmere Lake Bus Station (buses 224, 229, 301, 472).There are toilets and opportunity to buy food and drinks at the cafe.👣 Distance: The BeeWalk is 1-2 km along the Ridgeway, we will be walking at a gentle pace and expect to finish by 11:30am. The Wildflower survey will be the same distance, but much slower expecting to last 3-4 hours. Join for one session or both.🌿 Suitability: No prior knowledge needed – ideal for beginners, nature lovers, and those curious about volunteering with bumblebees!
What to Expect:
- Introduction to bumblebees and why they matter
- Tips and tricks for identifying common species
- Learn how to safely catch and pot bumblebees
- A guided BeeWalk following a standard survey route
- Introduction to common wildflower species and tips for identifying them
- Opportunity to ask questions and learn about ongoing volunteer opportunities
We will record the location, date, start and end times for each transect, the weather conditions (temperature, wind speed, cloud cover), bumblebees to species and caste (queen, worker, male), the flowers they are feeding on, as well as any honeybees.
What to Bring:
- Outdoor clothing suitable for the weather
- Sturdy footwear (some uneven terrain)
- Water/snacks
- (Optional) You could bring pen and paper for recording and making notes (if not doing digitally) and any nets, pots, hand lenses, and ID books if you have them to use on the day. We will also provide all necessary equipment.
Booking Info:
This session is free, but booking is essential as places are limited.
📩 For questions, contact: aydan.khan@bumblebeeconservation.org.If you can no longer make the BeeWalk/Wildfloweer survey, then please contact Aydan.Hosted by: Bumblebee Conservation Trust
We are looking forward to seeing you all there!🐝 About the Project
As part of Buzzing in the East End (B.E.E.) – southeast London, we are conducting monthly BeeWalks (from March to October) on our flagship sites across southeast London to search for rare species, including the Brown-banded carder and the Shrill carder.
If you're interested in learning how to identify bumblebee species and becoming an active BeeWalker, we’d love to have your help!
