COUNTRY LIFE
Our bees need you, but not
as much as you need them
by Amanda Ingham (HIWWT Land Advice Manager)
O
ne of every three mouthfuls
of food we eat depends on
pollination taking place. As well as
bees, other species like butterflies, moths,
flies, beetles and wasps all play their
part in essential pollination. Some £510
million of annual total crop sales in the UK
are pollinated by bees and other insects.
We depend on them not just to provide
the everyday foods we take for granted
like apples and pears – but also for the
survival of many of the flowers that we see
in our gardens and countryside and the
many species that in turn rely on them.
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Thanks to recent campaigns, many
people are aware that British pollinators
are under threat like never before. In
fact the British bee population has
declined by a third since 2007, and as
our population grows the need for their
services is ever increasing.
One of the main causes of the decline
in the number of bees, butterflies and
other pollinators in the UK is the way
that landscapes have been managed
over the last 50 years. 97% of wildflower
meadows have disappeared and use of
pesticides have been introduced, making
it increasingly difficult for them to find
the food and shelter that they need.
There are many things that we as
individuals can do to help our pollinators
- from planting nectar rich flowers in our
gardens to providing homes such as bug
hotels. But what we really need to do now
is to work in a more joined up way across
Hampshire to ensure that these wonderful
and essential species can thrive.
At Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife
Trust we not only ensure that our nature
reserves provide habitats for a range of
pollinators, we recognise that it is essential