Churchyard Nature Note with Andrew Tompsett
April 2011
The humble dumbledory
Stroll through the churchyard at this time of year and you will probably hear and see bumblebees as they seek nectar and
pollen with which to feed their brood of youngsters in nests in sunny banks or tussocks of grass.
Humble and bumble both refer to the buzzing sound and the apparent aimless wanderings the bees make. It has sometimes
been said that, in theory, the weight of a bumblebee is too great for flight but this is clearly untrue except when the insect is cold
and unable to beat its four small wings fast enough. Gardeners and farmers appreciate the presence of bumblebees early in the year to pollinate broad and field beans, and fruit crops. This is very important for a good yield and bumblebees are braver than honey bees at venturing out in cold or wet weather. Having long tongues, the role of bumblebees in pollinating clover is especially important and the availability of clover seed plays a key part in improving soil, especially for organic growers who grow clover in place of using nitrogen fertiliser.
Such a popular and noticeable insect has attracted many, often amusing, local names and sayings. One who sings like a
‘bumbee in a barrel’ is one who is all noise but no tune, whilst to be like a ‘humblebee in a pitcher’ refers to one with much to say
but goes unheard.
The Latin name of the 20 species found in Britain is Bombus meaning booming, and common names are numerous ranging
from‘bummie-bee’ in Scotland, to ‘humbledore’ in Gloucestershire, ‘drummel-drain’ in Devon and ‘dumbledory’ in Cornwall. JK Rowling’s creation of the wizard Dumbledore and Charles Dickens’s Mr Bumble in Great Expectations do suggest to us
something of these characters
The plump, furry, almost cuddly shape of bumble bees make them popular icons for stories and advertisements, and also makes them appealing and friendly to children. In this context it is worth noting that whilst possessing a sting, it is a weapon seldom used unless the insect is seriously manhandled.
What a shame, therefore, that their numbers are declining and some kinds have even become extinct in Britain. There is still time
to halt the decline by seriously looking after the countryside and in particular by encouraging the wild flowers on which they depend as they buzz their noisy but peaceful way around our gardens, crops and hedgerows.