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<p>The reintroduction of <em>Bombus subterraneus</em> (the short-haired bumblebee)
to the UK has been underway since 2012 through a partnership between Natural England,
the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, the RSPB and Hymettus. There have been annual releases
of queen bees from Sweden in the Dungeness and Romney Marsh area of Kent. A number
of landowners in the area are supporting the reintroduction by restoring the habitat
that the species depends on using agri-environment schemes. The partnership project
officer and a team of volunteers have been monitoring this habitat every summer and
in 2013 and 2014 worker short-haired bumblebees were seen in the area. This provides
direct evidence that at least some of the released queens have successfully formed
colonies. Queen releases and monitoring of habitat will continue through to 2016 at
which point it is hoped that there will be evidence that a self-sustaining population
is becoming established.</p><p> </p>
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