• Biodiversity
• Nature

Bee the Change: Why the UK Needs Pollinator Power Now

When you picture a bee, chances are you’re thinking of a honeybee. But did you know that honeybees make up just 1 out of 275 bee species in the UK?

That’s right. And while honeybees live in hives and make honey, the real unsung heroes of Britain’s buzzing biodiversity are our wild pollinators, especially bumblebees, 24 species of them, right here in the UK.

With almost 10% of the world’s bumblebee species, we in Britain are global custodians of these fuzzy, flying powerhouses. But they’re in trouble. And that’s where Pollinator Power: A Guide to Bumblebees and Biodiversity comes in.

Why Take This Course?

Led by Andy Benson of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Pollinator Power is a seven-part online journey into the lives of bees, why they matter, and what you can do to help them. From your windowsill to your local park.

Whether you’re bee-curious or ready to turn your garden into a pollinator paradise, you’ll come away informed, inspired, and ready to make a real difference.

Buzz-Worthy Facts from Andy’s Talk

Back in May we hosted Andy for one of our member meet ups and he was brimming with incredible facts about these tiny heroes. Here are just a few mind-blowing insights from Andy that’ll have you seeing bees in a whole new light:

Bees: Vegetarian Wasps with a History

• Bees evolved from meat-eating wasps around 130 million years ago, when some figured out they could get protein from flower pollen instead of hunting insects.
  
• That ancient shift set the stage for the stunning relationship between bees and flowers—and the rich, biodiverse ecosystems we rely on today.

Not All Bees Are the Same

• Only honeybees live in hives, make honey, or die when they sting. Most bees? Not so much.
• The UK is home to:
  • 250+ solitary bee species (like mason bees, leafcutter bees, and mining bees)
  • 24 bumblebee species—social, large, and incredibly efficient pollinators
    

Bumblebees: Built for the Cold

• Bumblebees evolved in the Himalayas, developing:
  
  • Thick fur
  • The ability to vibrate their flight muscles to stay warm
  • A level of temperature control that’s almost like being warm-blooded

This is why they’re often the first bees you’ll see in the chilly UK spring—and why they can pollinate in weather that stops others cold.

Bumblebees Are Key to Our Food System

• Bumblebees pollinate many of our most nutritious foods, including tomatoes, berries, beans, and apples.
• Some plants, like tomatoes, can only be pollinated through a method called buzz pollination which only bumblebees can perform by vibrating at just the right frequency.

If we had to pay humans to do the work bumblebees do for free, it would cost the UK an estimated £1.8 billion a year.

The Big Problem: Habitat Loss

Here’s the sting in the tail:

• The UK has lost up to 99% of its wildflower-rich grasslands over the last century.
• That means bees have lost 99% of their food.

Combine that with pesticide use, climate change, and urban sprawl, and it’s no wonder two bumblebee species have gone extinct in the UK and many more are in steep decline.

The Good News? You Can Help Right Where You Are

Andy’s message is hopeful: We can bring the bees back.

Every patch of land, whether it’s a country garden or a city balcony, can become part of the solution.

Here’s how:

• Plant bee-friendly flowers (like lavender, foxglove, clover, and wildflowers)
• Avoid pesticides and herbicides
• Leave wild patches for nesting and hibernation (long grass, leaf litter, or even old rodent holes)
• Speak up for greener public spaces, road verges, park corners, and community gardens can all help
• Provide bee pit stops: even a single planter box can keep a bee going for another 40 minutes of flight

Every flower counts. Every patch helps.

Alana Hyde Bloom

12/09/2025

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