With the help of Dr. Úna FitzPatrick, co-founder and project manager of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, the Large Carder Bee, which had been ailing in Tramore, is now thriving.
The uncommon Large Carder Bee (Bombus muscorum) lives in the dunes near Tramore in County Waterford. The European Bee Red List categorises this bumblebee as vulnerable.
In order to track this species, Dr. Úna FitzPatrick, a Senior Ecologist at the National Biodiversity Data Centre, developed the All-Ireland Bumblebee Monitoring Scheme in 2012 and initiated a monthly fixed route walk in the dunes. She observed a grand total of 36 Large Carder Bees in 2012 during the eight monthly treks from March to October. From 2013 to 2015, that number decreased, and from 2015 to 2022, she observed an average of only six of the Large Carder Bee yearly on the same stroll.
On an abandoned landfill site near the dunes, remodelling in Tramore has recently included the creation of a natural park. Skylarks and a substantial number of Bee Orchids live in the nature park's responsibly restored grasslands. A number of years ago, long-flowering meadows were created along the grassy borders of the neighbouring Estuary Road.
The outcomes have been outstanding. The Large Carder Bee was the most prevalent species of bumblebee identified in the Estuary Road meadow during the June 2023 monitoring scheme walk this year. The Northern Colletes, a rare solitary bee that is similarly identified to be endangered on the European Bee Red List, were additionally observed in the meadow.
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