So what's it all about?
Welcome to our website, bringing your attention to the importance of bees and some of the problems bees in Britain are facing, we hope you enjoy looking around and that you learn something new, there will be plenty of bee-related puns along the way. There is also a selection of steps you to help you make a difference and act on an individual level to keep the buzz going.
If you would like to get in touch with us about anything Bee-related we would be completely bee-hind you!
Bees
Both Honey Bees and Bumble Bees are important for crop pollination, cross pollination of flowers which provide a habitat to many other vital species that are fundamental to the eco system.
Honey bee's are arguably the most important pollinators to the worlds food system and farming practice, we need them to pollinate two thirds of our food, honey bees are not native to the UK but we have become very dependant on them for their pollination abilities.
Bumble bees are native to the UK, in 1950 there were over 50 different species of bees under the name "bumble bee" now there are just 24 species left. Bees need a diverse range of pollen and nectar to keep their immune system and hive life strong, the reasons for the depletion in bee populations come down to a variety of issues but one which is undoubtably contributing to the problem is in the UK there is very little natural land left.
Since the 1930's 97% of natural flowering land has been lost due to intensified agriculture practice leaving no space for the natural habits our fuzzy friends need.
Pesticides, climate change and disease are also responsible for the diminishing numbers of bees in the UK and worldwide, the extent of the damage each aspect has caused so far is being investigated by scientists to try and figure out how we can restore the blanace in our eco-system and farming practice to ensure the British bees will thrive again.
Honey bee's are arguably the most important pollinators to the worlds food system and farming practice, we need them to pollinate two thirds of our food, honey bees are not native to the UK but we have become very dependant on them for their pollination abilities.
Bumble bees are native to the UK, in 1950 there were over 50 different species of bees under the name "bumble bee" now there are just 24 species left. Bees need a diverse range of pollen and nectar to keep their immune system and hive life strong, the reasons for the depletion in bee populations come down to a variety of issues but one which is undoubtably contributing to the problem is in the UK there is very little natural land left.
Since the 1930's 97% of natural flowering land has been lost due to intensified agriculture practice leaving no space for the natural habits our fuzzy friends need.
Pesticides, climate change and disease are also responsible for the diminishing numbers of bees in the UK and worldwide, the extent of the damage each aspect has caused so far is being investigated by scientists to try and figure out how we can restore the blanace in our eco-system and farming practice to ensure the British bees will thrive again.
Did you know that "uban bees" have a better chance of survie than bees in the countryside due to higher flower diversity in the gardens and parks of city's. this is because of agricultural farming practice and lack of natural plant diversity in the rural environment.
"Grasslands occur throughout the UK but as agriculture has intensified, vast areas of traditional, wildlife-rich grasslands
have been lost and the remaining fragments are small and isolated. For instance, estimates suggest that within the last 75 years 80% of our chalk grassland and 97% of lowland meadows have been destroyed." -ARKive
"Grasslands occur throughout the UK but as agriculture has intensified, vast areas of traditional, wildlife-rich grasslands
have been lost and the remaining fragments are small and isolated. For instance, estimates suggest that within the last 75 years 80% of our chalk grassland and 97% of lowland meadows have been destroyed." -ARKive
“If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live.” ― Maurice Maeterlinck |
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