Today is World Bee day!

[Image courtesy of World Bee day]

World Bee Day and was founded by the Slovenian Beekeepers Association with the aim to raise awareness of the threat of extinction that bee species had been put under and the rapidly declining population. The awareness spread from the day helps to educate the public on why bees are so important in keeping our ecosystem alive. World Bee Day aims to help protect and preserve all species of bees including honeybees, bumblebees, and solitary bees.

[Image courtesy of Shutter Shock]

Bees are crucial in playing their role in the environmental eco-system, they are responsible for pollinating plants and flowers that animals and humans need to survive. According to The Woodland Trust bees are responsible for pollinating over a third of the food we consume and 80 percent of flowering plants.

Unfortunately, wild bees are seriously under threat and their population is rapidly declining. In a study done by Friends of Earth, since 1900 the UK has lost 13 species of bees, with a further 35 seriously under threat. The main contributing factors towards the loss of bee populations are climate change, pollution, loss of habitat, and poisonous chemicals being put into the environment.

[GIF courtesy of WIX]

I spoke to Wildlife Trust volunteer Poppy Moore on what you can do at home to help support the bee population,

‘Some tips you can try at home is leaving out small, shallow dishes of water with a few pebbles in around your back garden, bees can easily become dehydrated. Try to plant colorful plants and flowering fruits and vegetables, this will encourage them to come into your garden and provide fuller, healthier habitat for them. Also, if you can make or buy some bee houses or covers that will be helpful for them to find safe places to rest away from other predators.'

To find out more information on what you can do to help supports bees and their environment visit: https://thebeeconservancy.org/ and https://www.worldbeeday.org/en/