Saving the small things that run the planetOne out of every three mouthfuls of our food depend on pollinators, yet pollinators face a myriad of threats and are declining globally.
It is almost impossible to over-emphasise the vital services that pollinators perform for us. It’s estimated that 84% of EU crops (valued at £12.6 billion) and 80% of wildflowers rely on insect pollination. In the UK alone, the annual value of pollination to the economy is estimated to be £691 million. Without pollinators, many species of plant and animal wouldn’t be able to survive – including us.
In the UK, there is a large diversity of pollinating insect species, including around 275 species of bee and roughly 250 species of hoverfly. Other examples of wild pollinators include, butterflies and moths (2200 species), flies (6700 species) and various other insects such as beetles, wasps and thrips.
Pollination is essential for plant reproduction. The process occurs when pollen from the male part of a flower (anther) is transferred to the female part of another flower (stigma) of the same species. This leads to fertilisation and the production of seeds. Flowers produce nectar, a high-energy sugary liquid, as a way of attracting pollinators to their flowers to help this process along. The colouration of flowers and their scents are other ways that plants attract pollinators. The interaction of pollination is an example of mutualism, which means that both the pollinators and the plants benefit from the relationship that has evolved.
Over 97% (an area the size of Wales) of all flower-rich grasslands have been lost in England since the 1930s, reducing pollen and nectar sources and leading to a serious decline in the wildlife, including pollinators, that are dependent on wildflower-rich habitat. This is a reality that is mirrored in other areas of the UK.
UK Pollinator Facts:
Imagine living in a desert with barely any food, water or shelter. That is what much of the modern British countryside is now like for many wild pollinators. But what are the specific threats to pollinators?
Wildflower-rich habitats support some of our most threatened species, with a greater number of pollinators associated with them than any other habitat. That was why Buglife created the B-Lines, a network of ‘insect pathways’ across the UK that we are working to restore or create wildflower-rich habitat in. Find out more about this initiative and add your pollinator friendly space to the B-Line! We also have a B-Lines Education pack available to download for free.
Gardening for pollinators is one of the easiest things that you can do to benefit bugs in your local area. Buglife have developed resources to help people turn their spaces into pollinator and bug havens. Why not get some inspiration from the B-Lines Garden too! We also have resources available for landowners, farmers and councils who would like to manage their land for pollinators – explore our Pollinator Guidance area.
Interested in pollinator identification? Take part in survey training opportunities that Buglife offer or join a survey and practise your identification skills whilst helping us and others to understand more about pollinating species across the UK. Visit our events page for more information.
Spread the word about pollinators and join Buglife to help us save the small things that run the planet!
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