As the species champion for the Bilberry bumblebee I am delighted that the Bumblebee Conservation Trust has received funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery to the tune of £300,000.
The award will allow the Trust to achieve a step change in its ability to manage growth, infrastructure and sustainability over the next 3 years.
As the Trust faces the exciting challenge of growth, with this comes the need to invest in the organisation from its very ‘core’. The award will allow the organisation to start investing in its people and infrastructure to continue the amazing work already undertaken to halt and reverse the decline of bumblebees in the UK.
The level of interest and support the Trust has achieved since being founded in 2006 is evident through its successful projects, its work with governments on the national pollinator strategies and on the ground conservation work. There has been much focus on surveying and monitoring, building partnerships, providing scientific evidence and building our regional projects to support the UK’s bumblebee population.
Gill Perkins, CEO of the Trust said: “Our strategic aims continue to be acting to reverse the declines in our UK bumblebees using science and appropriate practical action; to educate and inspire people across society and work as trusted advisers to all the devolved governments, ensuring that the pollinator strategies produce real results for all pollinator”.
Pete Hollingsworth, Bumblebee Conservation Trust said “I am delighted with this extremely important award to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Protecting the nation’s bumblebee species is of critical importance now and for our future generations. This funding support from the Postcode Green Trust will make a substantial contribution to the conservation work of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and provide investment in our dedicated and integral team”.
Will Humpington, Climate Change and Environmental Programmes Advisor at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “Safeguarding the future of our bumblebee populations is a really important mission and I am delighted to be presenting this award on behalf of players of People’s Postcode Lottery. We wish Bumblebee Conservation Trust every success going forward.”