Brilliant news for bees
Along with other insects like butterflies and beetles, bees pollinate the planet’s plants by transferring pollen as they fly from flower to flower. Without the insects’ hard work, humans would be in trouble as new plants wouldn’t grow - meaning no fruit, vegetables, or other vital crops!
Bye-bye bumbles?
But sadly, many types of bee - including the brilliant bumblebee - are in danger, as their habitats are being destroyed. The winged wonders love flower-filled meadows and clover fields, but all over the British Isles, these natural areas are being cleared to make way for farming or building houses. This has had a big impact on bumblebees, with three species already extinct and others severely threatened.
Flying to safety
That’s why it’s great news that The Bumblebee Conservation Trust and RSPB Scotland have teamed up to create the world’s first bumblebee sanctuary in the Vane Farm nature reserve, beside Loch Leven in Perth and Kinross - and it’s already buzzin’ with beautiful bumblebees!
“We’ve turned a green field into a spectacular flower-filled meadow!”, Dr Dave Beaumont, Head of Reserves Ecology for RSPB Scotland told NG Kids. “The loss of bumblebees and the pollination services they perform could have a devastating effect on the planet, so it’s great to see so many bumblebees visiting the sanctuary!”
Be a bee buddy!
You can attract bumblebees and other wildlife to your garden or window boxes by planting their favourite flowers, like foxgloves, irises, lavender, snapdragons and cornflowers! Why not ask your parents if they can let a patch of the garden grow wild from late June until early August, too? Soon you’ll be able to watch the bumblebees buzzing in the clover!
Did you know?
In Sichuan province, China, where bees have been wiped out by pesticides, villagers have to use paintbrushes to spread pollen between their pear trees. So let’s make sure we protect our bees!
To find out more about how you can help bumblebees, buzz over to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust site and to find an RSPB reserve near you, click here!