Stop
Stay a little distance away. Do not touch or pick up the bumblebee.
A lesson carried home from Fairy Glen
Before we help,
we stop and notice.
A still bumblebee is not always a bumblebee in trouble. She may simply be resting.
What should we do?For Little Keepers and their grown-ups
Give her time, flowers and space.
These are the first three things to remember whenever you find a bumblebee sitting still.
Look
Is she near flowers? Is she safe from feet, wheels and curious pets?
Wait
Watch quietly with your grown-up. A resting bumblebee may simply need time.
Sometimes the kindest help is simply waiting nearby and letting a wild creature choose what happens next.
For grown-ups
Is she resting—or does she need help?
Bumblebees naturally rest. Newly emerged queens can remain on the ground for around 30 minutes and sometimes up to 45 minutes. Begin by watching from a little distance.
She is safe and has been still for less than 45 minutes
Leave her where she is. Keep children and pets back, notice any nearby flowers and check again later.
She could be stepped on or is otherwise vulnerable
If it is safe, a grown-up can gently move her a very short distance to a sheltered place or a nearby bee-friendly flower. Do not take her home.
She has not moved for more than 45 minutes
If bee-friendly flowers are nearby, a grown-up may gently place her beside one and then give her time and space.
There are no bee-friendly flowers nearby
Only as a last resort, offer one or two drops of a 50:50 mixture of white sugar and water on a spoon. Never use honey or brown sugar. This is a one-off emergency boost, not food to leave out.
The help that lasts
Bees need flowers.
The best support is a succession of nectar- and pollen-rich flowers from spring into autumn. Even a pot or window box can become a useful stopping place.
- Choose pesticide-free plants.
- Let a quiet patch of long grass or leaf litter remain.
- Give nests space and leave them undisturbed.
- Water flowering plants so they continue producing nectar.
A note about water
Flowers come first for bumblebees.
Bumblebees generally get the water they need from nectar. A shallow container with pebbles may be used by honeybees, flies and other insects, but it is not a substitute for healthy flowering plants.
Trusted guidance for grown-ups
This page follows current advice from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Their guidance explains why rest is normal, when moving a vulnerable bee may be appropriate and why sugar water should only ever be a last resort.