I'm sure you will all be looking for something else to do in the
summer .. A survey of the feeding and nesting habits of bumblebees is
being organised by Rothamsted. It will entail studying for a few days
in June your garden and a nearby 'wild' site: noting plant use and
nesting sites. A simplified colour identification chart will be
provided.
Details will appear on
www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk/pie/BumblebeeSurvey/
This could be a very useful study since bumble bee numbers seem to be
inclined and there is not a great deal of data from urban/suburban
sites.
Best wishes, Paul