Wildlife

Pollinator Welfare in Agricultural Landscapes

Wild pollinators including bumblebees, solitary bees, hoverflies, and butterflies provide essential ecosystem services and face severe welfare pressures from modern agriculture.

Key Facts

Over 90% of wild flowering plants depend on animal pollination
Pollinator diversity has declined markedly across agricultural regions in recent decades
Insecticides including neonicotinoids cause sub-lethal effects on pollinator navigation and reproduction
Wildflower margins, hedgerows, and unimproved grassland support diverse pollinator communities
Managed honeybee hives cannot substitute for wild pollinator diversity in many crops

Welfare Considerations

Sub-lethal pesticide exposure impairs pollinators' ability to navigate, learn, and reproduce, reducing colony success and individual welfare. Habitat loss prevents pollinators from finding sufficient food resources across their foraging range. Restoring diverse floral resources across agricultural landscapes is one of the most impactful and tractable interventions available for pollinator welfare.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes that create wildflower habitats on farms
Plant diverse nectar sources in gardens, allotments, and green spaces
Avoid pesticide use in gardens especially during flowering periods
Advocate for restrictions on neonicotinoid use in agricultural settings
Support organisations monitoring pollinator populations across the UK