According to Rosie Bleet, wilding evidence ecologist at Kent Wildlife Trust, from the first buzz of a bumblebee in the spring to the perfect circular holes in leaves made by leafcutter bees, these charismatic creatures have always been a source of fascination to humans.
3 wild bee facts from The Wildlife Trust
Did you know?
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Most people know about honeybees, domesticated in hives, but wild bees – such as solitary bees, bumblebees, and leafcutter bees – are more important as pollinators of plants.
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A foraging bumblebee with a full stomach is only ever around 40 minutes from starvation.
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The leafcutter bee cuts little circles out of plants and glues them together to create nests.
They may be fascinating, but why are bees important?
“Bees are incredibly important for the pollination of our crops and wildflowers, along with our other wild pollinators such as moths and hoverflies,” explains Bleet.
By moving pollen from flower to flower and fertilising them, bees allow plants to multiply and spread. When it comes to the food crops we rely on, 85-95% of the UK’s insect-pollinated crops depend on wild pollinators – of which wild bees are the largest group. Honeybees, which are mostly managed by humans in hives, also make a significant contribution – pollinating the remaining 5-15%.1
Bleet says that we often hear that bees need our help and it’s true that there is a general downward trend in the abundance of bees.
“This is largely caused by habitat loss and the resulting lack of food – flowers, fewer places to nest, and fewer places to spend the winter,” she notes.” Other factors such as pesticide use – especially insecticides, for example, neonicotinoids – can also have negative impacts on our bees and other pollinators.”
The sting in bee numbers
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5,000 species of bee – around one quarter of the 20,000 global bee species – have been lost since 1990.2
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In the UK, while many bee species continue to decline, others such as the solitary bee and bumblebee are actually doing well.
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The species doing well are mainly made up of ones that aren’t reliant on specific flowers but can collect pollen from a wider range.3
As important pollinators, the health of the bee population has a direct effect on our own health. In fact, when it comes to environmental and human health, there are several noteworthy benefits of bees. We’ve divided these into five key health benefits that show how these unique insects impact our own natural resources and wellbeing.
1. Food stability
Bees are so heavily involved in crop pollination that you have them to thank for every third mouthful of food you eat.4 When we think of food crops, it’s easy to only think of fruits and vegetables, but the range of food made available to us through pollination is much more wide-reaching – for example, nuts, oats, and grains are found in everything from porridge to bread and soups.
Experts are concerned that losing too many bees will de-stabilise global food supplies, making their distribution more precarious. What’s more, as crops visited by pollinators have 32% more variation,5 the decline in bees could lead to nutritional deficiencies in our diets as access to many nutrient-rich crops are cut off.
2. The cost of crops
In financial terms, the pollination services of bees and other insects contribute to around £690 million worth of crops in the UK every year.1 Counter-acting the loss of wild bees with manual farming methods would cost Britain an estimated £1.8 billion annually.3
These alternative farming methods are time-consuming and expensive, and this could have a hugely negative impact on local and global economies. There are various possible knock-on effects of this, including financial instability and associated mental health issues.
3. Wildlife and wellbeing
We don’t just need bees to pollinate plant crops. Bees pollinate wildflowers, securing the growth of a huge range of plants that provide healthy habitats and food supplies for hundreds of species. A healthy environment underpins many essential human needs.
These include:
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Freshwater – for drinking, growing crops, energy, and more.
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Breathable air – bees pollinate trees which in turn produce oxygen.
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Medicines – bees pollinate many plants that have healing properties and are used in modern medicines.
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Mental wellbeing – spending time in a healthy natural environment can help combat stress.
4. Honey
There are, of course, some more direct benefits of bees. Many honeybee colonies are managed by humans in hives because they produce honey. Aside from upgrading your morning porridge, honey has potential health benefits because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Honey has also been shown to relieve children’s night-time cough, allowing them to rest.6
However, beware the over-sold claims that honey is a miracle food – honey cannot be considered a good source of nutrients for humans in amounts we can healthily consume. Honey is a sugar, and The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends eating no more than two to three tablespoons of sugar each day.7
5. Other bee products
Honey isn’t the only bee product that people use. Other substances can also be found in medicines and supplements, although it should be noted that more human research is needed when it comes to accurately measuring their health benefits.
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Bee pollen – the pollen that accumulates in a bee colony contains antioxidants and nutrients and can be used as a nutritional supplement.8
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Bee glue (propolis) – this is a natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory by-product in hives that has possible benefits for our immune system.9
“Small actions can make a big difference,” says Bleet. “You can find out more about how you can help by taking a look at our Wild Bee Action Pack.”
Alongside other useful advice and fascinating facts, the Wildlife Trust’s pack contains practical tips for supporting bees.
They include how to:
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Plant nectar and pollen-rich flowers – find the bumblebee’s favourite flowers here.
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Create and protect bee nesting sites.
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Provide a water source for bees to drink.
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Avoid using pesticides – these harsh toxins can kill bees.
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Use peat-free compost – extracting from peatland destroys bees’ natural habitats.
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Help out a tired bumblebee.
