How can we help our Nations Bees. First of all, it is no secret to anyone that our nations bee population is in decline. There has been a lot of press recently about the importance of reversing this decline in attempt to save not only the bees, but our environment in general. Bees are imperative to the thriving of our wild flowers, trees, fruit, veg etc. So, what can we do to help?
Why are bees so important?
In short, bees pollinate pretty much everything. Our fruit, vegetables and 3/4 of our nations wildflowers.
Without bees, our food and our economy would be at risk of failing. No, they would fail. Completely.
If we had to artificially, or rather if our farmers had to artificially pollinate our food crops, it would cost them an extra £1.8 billion a year, or there about. Can you imagine how much our weekly shop would cost if that was the case? I mean, they'd have to make their money back somehow wouldn't they?
A healthy environment
Have you ever sat having a picnic, perhaps in the garden of a stately home, or a even a meadow near your house? If you have, you would probably have noticed all sorts of beautiful smells coming from the surrounding wild flowers, and the unmistakable sound of the bees buzzing while they work hard to gather what they need for their hives.
If you did notice, it means that the environment in that area is good. Bees are therefore a good sign of a thriving area.
A good place for bees is a good place for people. So, not only are these areas responsible for keeping our bees working hard and healthy, they also mean that for humans our air is fresher and our water is too.
Species
Over the years, over 270 species have been recorded in the UK. 13 species have completely disappeared. Since 1900, 35 species have been deemed under threat. This isn't good news.
Why the decline?
There are a number of reasons why the bee population is in decline, loss of habitat as a result of the need for homes and places to grow crops. Disease, pesticides from farming, pollution from everyday life, and the increase in foreign plants and insects coming here from abroad. The bees just can't compete with them.
Progress
Progress is being made. Slowly but surely. In 2018 three neonicotinoids (pesticides used in UK farming) known to be harmful to our bees were banned. This is a positive step in the right direction! But more needs to be done.
Can you imagine a country without bees? I can. Bleak, barren, devoid of life and colour. But it's not all bad.
How can we help our Nations Bees?
So, there are a few things that we as residents of this great world can do to help our bees on their way.
- Plant nectar rich flowers in our gardens, or window boxes. Herbs such as sage and thyme, flowers like bluebells, lavender, strawberry plants and tomato plants. All of these are fantastic for bees.
- A bee hotel. Despite the ever represented swarms of bees, a few of our species are solitary and need somewhere to live. Many of them dig into crumbling walls and soft concrete, others prefer dry logs. Placing things such as logs, untreated wood, breeze blocks etc in your garden can help give them a place to live.
- Access to water, install a pond or perhaps a bird bath in your garden. Bees need water too.
- Eat local honey, apparently eating honey within 6 miles or so of your home can help tackle hay fever too! I'm not sure how much truth is in this but it would make sense right?
- Encouragement at work. Why not tell people what you're doing to help. You could hold a competition for who can make the most bee friendly living environment, and then have them set up in your gardens, or even in a dedicated space on site at work. Whatever you do, it will help our bees on their way.
What are we doing at the House Name Plate Company?
Here at the HNP, we are proud to say that we are doing our bit to help reverse the decline in our nations bees. We have launched our range of 'Bee' related products and for every product sold, we will be donating £1 to Friends of the Earth - 'Save the Bees' campaign. Read more here.
We also have something exciting happening in July, again to do with bees. But I'm going to save that for another blog post. I can't wait to share though!
Head over to our range of Bee products.
