Today (Monday, July 18), at the beginning of Bees’ Needs Week, fresh research showed that stabilising pollinator numbers could aid in stabilising the output of significant crops including oilseeds and fruit.
According to the latest study, which was released by the University of Reading, crops visited by bees had more consistent yields with 32 percent less fluctuation than crops produced without pollinators.
For food production and biodiversity, tens of thousands of pollinators—including honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies, moths, flies, and beetles—are necessary.
However, they are in danger as a result of habitat loss, invasive species, pests and illnesses, climate change, and other problems.
This year, the public is urged to perform Five Simple Actions to Support Pollinators as part of Bees’ Needs Week (18 – 24 July).
These tasks are simple to complete, and it makes no difference how much space is available because every action, no matter how small, counts. Everybody can help maintain bee numbers by:
Develop additional trees, shrubs, and flowers.
Make your garden untamed.
Cut your lawn less frequently.
Leave insect nests and hibernation areas alone
Consider your options carefully before using pesticides.
Another excellent method for assisting scientists in their understanding of pollinator numbers is to keep an eye out for insects in your neighbourhood.
The Pollinator Monitoring Scheme is the first programme of its kind to produce data on bee, hoverfly, and other flower-visiting insect abundance on a nationwide level.
We will be able to measure pollinator population trends and focus our conservation efforts thanks to the information it will provide.
A Flower-Insect-Timed Count (FIT Count) will be conducted this summer, and as part of Bees’ Needs Week, the public is invited to participate.
Anyone can participate by spending ten minutes in good weather observing flowers and insects and then sharing the information on the app.
Every observation helps to improve survey records and knowledge of pollinator activity.
FIT Counts can be conducted anywhere there are lots of flowers.
Lord Benyon, minister for biodiversity, said:
Pollinators, which range from bumblebees to moths and butterflies, are an important component of our natural ecosystem and support food production and biodiversity.
It will benefit nature to plant wildflower meadows, insect motels, or even a simple window box. To help our important pollinators, we can all do our part.
Natural England’s chief executive, Marian Spain, stated:
We all rely on a healthy ecosystem, which is why pollinators are so important.
We can take a variety of actions to support their growth, such as participating in population monitoring and preserving any outdoor space we have.
Collectively, even modest efforts all support pollinators in their work as needed.
The ‘Superbloom,’ a flourishing natural landscape established in the recognisable moat at the Tower of London, takes place during Bees’ Needs Week.
Today, Monday, July 18, the University of Reading’s Bee Team will be present to present their projects, which include displays of buzzing bumblebee colonies, the world of pollinators under a microscope, and activities to help the general public understand how pollination is necessary for everyday purchases.
The new study’s principal investigator, Dr. Jake Bishop of the University of Reading’s Bee Team, said:
This study serves as a timely reminder of the importance of protecting our pollinating heroes.
Our work highlights the significance of pollinating insects like bees for the safety of our food supply.
By making minor adjustments to how they mow, plant, or spray their land, any gardener, farmer, and landowner in the UK may significantly improve the situation for bees.
In conjunction with Bees’ Needs Week, Defra will also announce the winners of the 2022 Bees’ Needs Champions Awards, which recognise outstanding efforts made by farmers, companies, and community organisations to save pollinators.