Bumblebee re-introduction

According to Scotland's Sunday Herald, entymologists at Southampton University (UK) have been awarded £180,000 over three years to encourage the spread of the great yellow bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus) to mainland UK. The bee has been extinct in mainland Britain and is now only found in the Outer Hebrides (islands off NW Scotland).

Dr Dave Goulson of Southampton will study why the Hebrides are so suitable for bumblebees and where similar habitat can be found and encouraged on the mainland.

I have to confess I'm struggling to see the relevance of this research in the overall scale of things from the reports available -- anyone have more information?

Here's a good BBC feature on bumblebees.