A project is underway to reintroduce the short haired bumblebee to parts of Kent. The bee disappeared from the South East in 1988 and was declared regionally extinct in 2000. Scientists will travel to Sweden to collect 100 bumblebee queens which will then be released into the Kent countryside. The bees will spend two weeks in quarantine to ensure they are free from disease and will then be introduced to Romney Marsh and Dungeness. It is hoped they will re-colonise the meadows and farmlands. An area of 650 hectares has been prepared for the bees arrival. The rejuvenated area has already seen the return of the rare shrill carder bee so there are high hopes for this project.
