Bees 🐝
Where would we 'bee' without them?
Why are bees important?
Did you know there are over 270 species of
bee in the UK? 🐝 But
our bees are under threat , with many of
them facing serious decline and even localised extinctions due to
factors such as climate change, increased pesticide usage and habitat
losses.
A decline in bee numbers is bad for our ecosystems because bees are
considered keystone species , which means
they are really important for keeping our ecosystems healthy and
sustainable. In addition,
humans rely on bees for goods and services
including pollination of important crops, like apples 🍎, and for honey
🍯 and wax production.
Infographic sourced from the BBC.
Bee identification
Below are a few of the bees you might spot in your garden or local park. 🌻
The buff-tailed bumblebee
Found throughout Britain, especially in early Spring.
The honey bee
A vital pollinator, see these bees throughout the Spring and Summer
across the country.
The common carder bee
This fluffy bumble bee can be found wherever there are flowers to
feed on!
Bee images from the Wildlife Trust.
Find out more about these bees and other common bees from the Wildlife Trust.
Feeling inspired to help bees?
Here are some easy ways you can help:
- Leave some parts of your garden as wild areas to encourage biodiversity 🍂
- Plant bee-friendly seeds and plants 🌼
- Don't use chemical pesticides, use organic pest control instead 🧤
-
Inform youself about bees and the
struggles they are facing 📚
Why not try one of the links below?
Thanks for reading! Coded by Ellen Pollard.