Plight of The Bumblebee

There are various reasons that bumblebees and other bees are under threat both at home in the UK and around the world.

On the domestic front, changes to the countryside & gardening habits in Britain have impacting very negatively on bee numbers. Modern agricultural practices have significantly reduced the diversity of native plants that manage to thrive amongst farmed crops and a rush to have hard standing for cars instead of front gardens has not been a particularly helpful trend.

Dramatic declines have occurred in most populations of bumblebees with two species having gone extinct in the UK. It is therefore imperative that remedial action is taken to help avoid further extinctions.

What can you do?

Well if you are not a farmer you have limited power over how agricultural land is utilised, so that is a battle for another place. On the other hand though, if you have access to a garden, planting bee friendly plants and trees will definitely help combat the decline in bee numbers and have the added advantage of attracting fascinating insects to observe on a warm summers day. In addition there are countless numbers of industrial & commercial premises around the UK that are devoid of pollen rich plants or nesting sites for bumblebees and the numerous types of solitary bee that inhabit this island of ours. With a little time and very little money it is possible to transform the desserts surrounding these premises into an environment that is better for wildlife and for those that work in them. An enriched working environment can surely only be good for the morale of the workforce. How much nicer to sit outside eating your lunch, if the everyday sounds of your workplace and those of your neighbours is punctuated by the buzz of a bee busily visiting nearby blooms.

For more information about bumblebees visit: www.bumblebeeconservation.org