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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Rachel Keenan

UK bumblebee numbers fell to lowest on record in 2024, shows data

A red-tailed bumblebee gathers pollen from a purple flower
Red-tailed bumblebees fell by 74% in 2024. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Figures show 2024 was the worst year for bumblebees in the UK since records began.

Bumblebee numbers declined by almost a quarter compared with the 2010-2023 average, according to data from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. The researchers said the drop was probably due to the cold and wet conditions in the UK last spring.

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