🌼 Interested in pollinators or wildflowers? Curious about citizen science?Join us for a free Volunteer Taster Session in Lesnes Abbey Wood to learn how to identify common bumblebee and plant species and take part in guided BeeWalk and Wildflower surveys!🗓 Date & Time: Friday 12th September, meeting at 10:00 am and expecting to finish at 4:00pm.📍 Location: We will meet at Lesnes Abbey Lodge, marked on the map in event photos – SE2 0AX, What3Words:///first.oven.inner The meeting point is a 12 minute walk from Abbey Wood Station.There are toilets and opportunities to buy food/ drinks in local cafes, such as at the meeting place and Abbey Cafe.👣 Distance: The BeeWalk is 1-2 km around Fordham Park, we will be walking at a gentle pace and expect to finish by 12:00 pm. The Wildflower survey will last approximately 3-4 hours and use the same route. 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!
