Ask the Woodland Trust
I know how important bees are to the natural world and that they’re under threat. What steps can I take to help them?
Unfortunately, due to habitat loss, pollution and climate change, bees are in severe decline. They’re an integral part of a healthy ecosystem, but their numbers are plummeting.
In the UK, dozens of crops depend on or benefit from bee pollination. What’s more, they also pollinate many of the crops used for animal feed, helping us to produce meat, eggs and dairy products. And while wild bees can efficiently pollinate on a large scale, the cost to farmers of manually pollinating crops would be huge.
Bees also pollinate our wild trees and wildflowers, which in turn support other insects, birds, bats, mammals and everything else in the food chain. So, without bees – and our thousands of other native insect species – it wouldn’t be long before our ecosystem collapsed. Here are some ways you can support bees in your garden.
Stop using pesticides Some pests provide food for pollinators, as well as birds and other animals, so leaving them to be controlled naturally is the best choice if you want to help save bees.
Give them shelter Like most invertebrates, bees need to nest and hibernate. Buy a ready-made bee hotel or create your own and hang it in a sunny, sheltered spot during spring and summer, keeping it clean and free of mould.
Grow bee-friendly flowers Planting nectar-rich, bee-friendly flowers is the easiest way to help. Try dedicating an area of your garden, or even just a window box or balcony planter, to a wide range of flowering plants, including foxglove, bird’s-foot trefoil and red clover.