Take action for the bees’ needs

BEES’ NEEDS WEEK

At Pollenize we follow the mantra ‘Think Global Act Local’ which means to have an impact on the health of the entire planet you must first start by making changes at a community level. Bees’ Needs Week is an awareness campaign set up by Defra and other green leaders to highlight how easy it can be for people to support bees and other pollinators from their own homes. After all, everyone has a part to play in boosting biodiversity and providing safe habitats for wildlife.

We want to join other environmental organisations that have been inspiring the public to look out for our pollinators for Bees’ Needs Week and beyond.  We’ve pulled together 4 key actions that you can implement at your home, work, or public area to give our precious pollinators the protection they need.

1 . PLANT NATIVE

Chris Parkes

Nectar and pollen sources are fundamental for the survival of pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies. Providing a wide range of native flowering plants, trees and shrubs in your garden is the best thing you can do to ensure there is plenty of food available.

So why is it better to plant native? Native plants are perfectly adapted to their surroundings which means they are climate resilient, require less maintenance and can be as stunning as exotic species whilst doing a much better job at supporting local ecosystems. Most importantly though, bees and other pollinators have survived and co-evolved with native plants over millions of years - it was literally meant to be.

At Pollenize, we use scientific research to strategically select the seeds that go into our citizen science rewilding packets. This means our native wildflowers benefit the greatest number of pollinator species over the longest flowering period, so there is always plenty of pollen and nectar available throughout the year. Our interactive seed map allows the public to log the sowing location of their wildflowers which in turn aids our plant diversity research and pollinator conservation efforts. Find out more about the Pollenize citizen science project.

2. CO-EXIST

We must all consider our gardens and local parks a space to co-exist with wildlife. Areas such as holes, hedgerows, trees, piles of dead wood and leaves are very popular with nesting insects, so it goes a long way to always act cautiously to avoid destroying homes. If you do discover an insect nest has called your garden home then take the time to learn about the species and their role within the ecosystem,  instead of bothering them simply marvel from a distance as they go about their business.

Unlike honeybees and bumblebees, solitary bees do not live in colonies but instead lead independent, less social lives choosing to nest under the ground or in natural hollow holes.  That said, solitary bees are still a very welcomed guest to gardeners and an easy way to support them is by providing safe spaces for them to lay eggs or overwinter. Solitary bees can hugely benefit from the presence of readymade homes so check out this family friendly guide to creating a bee hotel, courtesy of our wonderful friends over at Beevive.

Finally, be sure to make your nature zone a toxic free environment. Using harsh substances to control weeds or deter pest can cause serious ecological damage, particularly for foraging bees. Avoid causing havoc for the local bugs, hedgehogs, frogs, and birds by choosing to pass on the pesticides and instead seeking out more environmentally friendly practices.

3. STOP THE STRIM

There’s nothing wrong with having pride in presentation but if Monty Don’s claim that mowing grass is “about the most injurious thing you can do to wildlife” doesn’t convince you to slow the mow in your garden, we don’t know what will!  By simply designating a small section of your garden to grow wild you can create immense benefits for local biodiversity. Neat lawns are going old school, so cut back on the trimming to give nature a fighting chance. We bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the new flowers that pop up to attract welcomed visitors.

Lawns which are left more natural will likely bloom with an abundance of beautiful daisies, clovers buttercups and dandelions - an all you can eat feast for our pollinators. Longer grass also offers safe shelter for insects and the opportunity to lay eggs, which often provides a vital food source for birds and other wildlife.

We often look to local authorities and the government to lead the way in rewilding Britain...and rightly so. However, with 15 million gardens in the UK with the potential to offer up space for wildlife havens, we as a public hold a significant amount of that responsibility. If you haven’t got a garden it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t get involved. Flying pollinators have no trouble finding window boxes or balcony displays, so simply plant some floral favourites, and watch as the butterflies and bees come to you.  

4. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BEEKEEPERS

Chris Parkes

It’s no secret that the world’s pollinator and insect populations are plummeting globally, which is a terrifying prospect for the future of our planet. The good news is that there are countless individuals and organisations out there dedicating their lives to turning this around!

By supporting local beekeepers, you are not only fuelling a passion and enabling important work to go ahead but you can also take huge personal pride for having such a positive impact on your local environment.

At Pollenize we are working closely with other beekeepers, scientists and changemakers to promote the reintroduction of our native black honey bee here in the UK.  Due to the immense generosity and support from our community here in Plymouth, we have been able to install 9 native honey bee apiaries across the city.

We pride ourselves on making beekeeping more accessible. By supporting Pollenize through the patronage scheme our members receive exclusive honey shares and resources as well as the unique option to join us at our regular hive inspections throughout the beekeeping season. Find out more about what it means to be a Pollenize patron

We hope you found these simple actions useful in the fight to secure a better future for pollinators and the planet. Do you have any tips we’ve missed? We’d love to hear from you.