Wildlife

Wild Pollinators Habitat and Welfare

Wild pollinators including bumblebees, solitary bees, and hoverflies face welfare threats from habitat loss, pesticides, and disease requiring coordinated action.

Key Facts

UK has over 270 bee species, the majority of which are solitary rather than social
Bumblebee populations have declined significantly with two species becoming extinct in the UK
Solitary bees nest in bare soil, dead wood, and hollow stems requiring diverse habitats
Neonicotinoid pesticides impair bee navigation, learning, and reproduction at field-realistic doses
Wildflower-rich habitats support diverse pollinator communities across the season

Welfare Considerations

Pollinators experience direct welfare impacts from pesticide exposure that impairs navigation, causing individual bees to become lost and unable to return to nests. Social bumblebees experiencing colony collapse suffer the welfare cost of a failed reproductive season and starvation of dependent larvae. Habitat loss reduces foraging success, increasing physiological stress from incomplete nutrition across the season.

What You Can Do

Plant a diverse range of flowering plants providing pollen and nectar spring to autumn
Advocate for pesticide reform restricting neonicotinoids and other systemic insecticides
Support Buglife and Bumblebee Conservation Trust habitat creation programmes