Buzzing with Life at Howes Wood 🌿🐝
Spring is truly making itself known at Howes Wood, and this week it isn’t our beloved red squirrels stealing the show… it’s the bees!
We’ve been noticing a wonderful abundance of bee and insect species throughout the wood lately, and it’s a real reminder of just how rich and interconnected the ecosystem here is. Where red squirrels thrive, the whole habitat tends to flourish, and Howes Wood is a perfect example of that.
We managed to capture some of this buzzing activity on film, and we think you’ll love it. Take a look at the video clip below to see one of our most charming woodland visitors in action!
The star of our footage is the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), the largest of all the bumblebee species and an absolute powerhouse of the natural world. Measuring up to 2.2cm, these impressive insects are one of the first bees to emerge in spring, and spotting one is always a welcome sign that the season has truly arrived.
They’re named after the buff-coloured tail of the queen, though it’s worth knowing that the worker bees actually have almost white tails, which makes them easy to confuse with white-tailed bumblebees! To tell them apart, look for the yellow collar near the head and a second yellow band on the abdomen. Males can be identified by the buff tinge to their tails and distinctive black hair on their faces.
Buff-tailed bumblebees nest underground, often taking over old mammal burrows, and their colonies can grow to an extraordinary 600 individuals, a remarkable little society operating right beneath our feet. Unlike some bee species with longer tongues, these bees have shorter tongues and favour open, daisy-like flowers where the nectar is more easily reached. But here’s where it gets really clever: when they encounter a flower that’s simply too deep, they don’t give up, they bite a hole at the base of the flower and steal the nectar directly! This sneaky behaviour has earned them the wonderful nickname of ‘nectar robbers’, and the holes they leave behind are then used by other insects too, so even their piracy has a community benefit.
In a woodland and green space setting like Howes Wood, buff-tailed bumblebees play a vital role in pollinating the plants and trees that in turn provide food and shelter for our squirrels and the wider wildlife community. It’s a beautiful reminder that conservation is never just about one species; it’s about protecting an entire, interconnected world.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on what’s visiting the wood as the season progresses, so watch this space for more updates. If you’ve spotted buff-tailed bumblebees or other interesting bee and insect activity in your own garden or local green spaces this spring, we’d love to hear about it and see any photographs or footage!
🗓️ 2027 Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust Calendar
Sponsor a Page. Support the Island.
Our 2027 calendar showcases the extraordinary red squirrels of the Isle of Wight through the lenses of the island’s own brilliant photographers. It is a publication that will sit on desks and walls across the island and beyond for an entire year, and we have two ways for your business to be part of it.
Month Sponsorship — £150 12 opportunities, one per month (only 3 remaining)
- Your business name and logo featured prominently across your sponsored month’s full page
- Listed as a supporter in all promotional print and digital materials
- One complimentary calendar (additional copies available to purchase)
- Direct funding of Isle of Wight red squirrel education, publicly demonstrating your commitment to both red squirrels and a dedicated Isle of Wight charity
Supporter Square — £30 12 opportunities, logos featured together on a shared page (only 7 remaining)
- Your business name featured in a supporter square on our shared supporter page
- Listed as a supporter in digital promotional materials
- One complimentary calendar (additional copies available to purchase)
- A meaningful, affordable way to ally with us and publicly demonstrate your commitment to both red squirrels and a dedicated Isle of Wight charity
Whether you’re a sole trader wanting to show your values or an established business looking for year-long local visibility, there’s an opportunity here for you. All proceeds go directly to the Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust and the work that we do here on the Island.
To find out more about sponsorship and to secure your slot, click here.
Helping nature find its way back to the light, one leaf at a time.