How bumblebees boosted Nathan’s mental health

Nathan said, “Before I got involved in Bee Inspired, I’d probably have tried to kill a bumblebee if I saw one. Now, I’d welcome it into my home and give it a cup of tea!”

As the 27-year-old from Walsall learned more about bumblebees, the different species and the habitat that allows them to flourish, he found his interest was having a positive effect on his mental health.

Nathan said, “Before the bumblebee project I was in a really dark place, suffering from depression and stuff. Since I’ve got involved, my mind is more at ease. If I get depressed nowadays, I go outside into nature. It’s a little cure for my mental health.”

By his own admission, Nathan was hesitant when he was first told about Bee Inspired, a two-year pilot project launched in September 2022 by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT). The aim of Bee Inspired – which was supported by National Lottery funding – is to recruit ‘Bumblebee Champions’, volunteers who spread the word to family and friends about the essential role bumblebees play in maintaining the health and stability of ecosystems.

Nathan was told about Bee Inspired by the MindKind Projects, a mental health initiative in Walsall, his hometown. He said, “At first, I wasn’t interested, but I thought I’d give it a go because my mental health was bad. I didn’t know anything about bumblebees, how they help with crops for example. But something clicked and I started to think ‘this is awesome’.

Nathan soon learned that many people are frightened of bumblebees, an attitude that quickly changes when they learn more about the busy pollinators and discover their numbers are declining. He said, “We had one kid who was petrified of them and at the end of the course he wanted to be a beekeeper!”

Gurinder Atwal, the BBCT’s outreach and volunteering manager, said the Bee Inspired pilot scheme was designed to test ways to engage volunteers from communities who are less likely to get involved in conservation. By doing so, the BBCT reaches a new audience who are ready and prepared to stand up for bumblebees.

As part of the Bee Inspired initiative, local community groups in Walsall took part in Bumblebee Champion training. Participants learned how to identify bumblebee species and lead their own ‘bumblebee safaris’ - guided walks focused on spotting bumblebees in local green spaces.

Nathan attended a training session where all eight of the UK’s common bumblebee species were identified in central Walsall, highlighting the fact that bumblebees are our neighbours. The project also included community planting days, where residents discovered the importance of pollinator-friendly plants and explored the vital role bumblebees play in food production.

The Bee Inspired pilot project in Walsall has ended, but Nathan is still a Bumblebee Champion. Gurinder said, “We continue to support our ‘Bumblebee Champions’. It’s a pool of volunteers who continue to meet online and in person. If a local organisation needs someone to lead a bee safari or give a talk about bumblebees, we’ll reach out to someone like Nathan who’s local and they’ll go along.”

Nathan readily admits bumblebees have helped him as much as he’s helped them. He said, “When I was younger, I used to do some quite bad things. Doing this, I feel I’m doing good for the world. I feel like I’m evolving and changing.

“I didn’t use to care about nature – I was a gamer who stayed indoors. Now, I’m mostly outside fishing or doing bee hunts. Nature is an incredible medicine for depression and mental health.”

13th May 2025