Blog written by Young Ambassador Laura D'Ambrosio

Out of over 270 species of bee in the UK, we have already lost 13, with another 35 at risk. This poses a serious risk to our future food supply, and the preservation of our natural resources. We urgently need to address issues such as climate change, pesticides, monocrops and plant biodiversity to tackle this.

Part of the problem is lack of public awareness of wild bees’, rather than honeybees’ extinction. The public doesn’t know how to help. People are taking up beekeeping or supporting apiaries in the attempt to “save the bees”, when out of all bee species, honeybees are in the least danger.

Honeybees are also a lot less efficient than wild bees at pollinating crops, with the Red Mason bee being 120 times more effective at pollinating apple trees.

As a consequence of wild bees’ global extinction, most of our fruits and vegetables are under threat. Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, runner beans, courgettes, chilli peppers and tomatoes are examples of food crops that rely heavily on these pollinators, with 75% of global food crops depending on animal pollination. 

This poses major public health concerns, too, as most sources of our vitamins would be gone. Wild bees are also essential for maintaining other wildlife and biodiversity, providing homes and food for other animals by pollinating trees and flowers. Without them, many of our reserves and wild meadows would be gone.

Though it may be too late for already lost species like Cullum’s bumblebee and the Short-haired bumblebee, most species can still be saved.

This will depend very much on wider global issues, like climate change. This causes more extreme weather like storms and droughts, and higher overall temperatures, which can make it difficult for bees to forage in. By helping fight climate change you are saving the bees too.

Other major issues are in agriculture. Large spans of monocultures, offer little diversity in food source for bees, and harsh pesticides confuse, harm, or even kill bees. The ban on neonicotinoids — a type of pesticide that has disastrous effects on pollinators, was reversed in 2021.

We need to push for wildflower hedgerows and meadows among agricultural land, and support the reduction of pesticides by purchasing “wonky” fruit and veg. We can provide bees with a food source in urban areas, by having a wildflower patch in our gardens, or even nesting boxes for solitary bee species, as well as support the conservation of bee friendly habitats such as grasslands, and especially flower rich meadows (of which 97% have been lost in the UK, since the 1930s).

It may seem like a lot of work, but if we want to save our planet from major biodiversity loss and habitat degradation, and save ourselves from future malnourishment, we need to save our wild bees. And by doing what you can and spreading the message, hopefully, like me, you will be much more aware and appreciative of these small heroes and what they do for us.