Cumbria Wildlife Trust is looking for volunteers in the north west of the county to join their team recording pollinators.

The trust will be hosting online training sessions to show how to identify different pollinating insects, and is looking for those who would like to become a volunteer pollinator recorder.

As part of the Get Cumbria Buzzing project, which seeks to educate on the value of bees and other pollinating creatures to the ecosystem, Cumbria Wildlife Trust is looking for volunteers to help record the number and range of pollinators found in the north west of the county.

The wildlife charity is running a series of five online training sessions in August and September, aimed specifically at those living in north and west Cumbria.

Experienced trainers will be leading the workshops, such as Guy Broome, who is experienced in trapping and identifying moths.

The following sessions will take place on the following days:

• Butterfly identification and recording: common butterflies – 14 August, 1.00pm – 2.00pm

• Moth trapping, identification and recording – 17 August, 8.30am – 9.30am

• Bumblebee identification and recording – 20 August, 1.00pm – 2.30pm

• Butterfly identification and recording: specialist butterflies – 31 August, 1.00pm – 2.00pm

• Introduction to identifying and recording hoverflies – 7 September 7.30pm – 8.30pm

The five sessions will be aimed at people living in Carlisle, Maryport, Whitehaven and Workington, as these are the areas that the Get Cumbria Buzzing project is focusing on.

Numbers are limited and anyone interested in taking part is advised to book well in advance.

Lucy Graham, Project Officer for Get Cumbria Buzzing, explained why pollinators need help.

“Across the UK, bumblebees and other pollinating insects are disappearing at an alarming rate," she said.

"More than half of our bee, butterfly and moth species have declined in the past 50 years, and 30 species of bees face extinction.

"Over the last 75 years we’ve lost 97% of our flower-rich meadows, 50% of our hedgerows, and 60% of flowering plants are in decline.

“As a trained pollinator recorder, your information will contribute really valuable data to local and national records.

"With your help, we’ll be able to create the first Cumbrian Pollinator Atlas and track insect populations and movements. This valuable data will help inform us on the best ways to support bumblebees across the county.”

To sign up for a pollinator ID and Recording webinar, go to www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/events.

For more information, email lucyg@cumbriawildifetrust.org.uk.