Wildlife Welfare

Wild Bee Population Welfare Landscape

Landscape-scale approaches to supporting wild bee welfare through habitat provision, pesticide reduction, and disease management.

Key Facts

The UK has 270 species of wild bee including 25 bumblebee species
Over half of UK bumblebee species have declined significantly since the 1970s
Neonicotinoid pesticides harm bee reproduction and navigation
Flower-rich habitats support diverse and abundant wild bee populations
Disease spillover from managed honeybees affects wild bee welfare

Welfare Considerations

Wild bee welfare operates at landscape scale. Individual bee welfare depends on access to diverse floral resources, nesting habitat, and freedom from pesticide exposure throughout their foraging range. Landscape approaches that create connected networks of flower-rich habitat, reduce pesticide pressure, and support diverse nesting opportunities provide the conditions for wild bee population recovery.

What You Can Do

Create flower-rich gardens with diverse native plants to support wild bees
Reduce or eliminate pesticide use in your garden
Advocate for flower-rich margins and reduced pesticide use in agricultural landscapes