Although some people regard bees as pests, Albert Einstein famously said: “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.”
Bumble bees are beautiful, hard working and incredibly important pollinators. In the last 70 years two species have become nationally extinct, and others are seriously threatened. There is lots you can do to encourage these special creatures into your garden .http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/gardening_for_bumblebees.htm
Bees need our help as their dramatic decline in numbers has become a cause of global concern .Their survival is worth about £20 million pounds to British agriculture since they pollinate about a third of our food crop.
Across the UK people are joining Bee Part Of It, a BBC and National Trust project supported by Springwatch presenter Kate Humble, to create local bee-friendly spaces. Watch Kate learn about keeping bees:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/norfolk/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8719000/8719109.stm
The Global Bee project is another initiative trying to raise awareness of the plight http://www.globalbeeproject.org/
Or visit http://www.sustainweb.org/foodfacts/plight_of_the_honey_bee/ to find out more information about honey bees and how you can help preserve their future.
Sun, Aug 1, 2010
Climate Change Gardening, UK Climate Change, Bees