Why do we need pollinators?
Pollinators are important to farmers who grow pollinator-dependent crops and to those of us who want to grow our own fruits and vegetables. Even if we don’t currently grow these crops, we should aim to retain the ability to do so for future generations.
How do pollinators benefit farms?
- Reinforcing the UK’s vital green image in premium markets.
- Maximising production value via increased yields of crops.
- Saving time and money in many cases.
- Providing additional benefits such as improving natural pest control or protecting watercourses by creating pesticides/fertiliser buffer zones.
- Maintaining a healthy and sustainable farm ecosystem and ensuring your land remains in as good, or better, a natural state as when you began farming/looking after it.
The value of many pollinator-dependent crops has increased by approximately 20% just in the past decade. Given our changing climate and the volatility in global markets it is hard to predict the most profitable way for future generations to farm. In the future, pollination services may be even more important to how your land is farmed.
What do pollinators need to survive?
Food
Lack of food is a major cause of pollinator declines. Bees feed only on pollen and nectar from flowers. Nectar gives the adults energy for flying and they feed pollen to their young. To have a healthy balanced diet, bees need to be able to feed on a range of different flowers from MARCH right through to OCTOBER. Spring is when bees are most at risk of starvation.
Shelter
Bumblebees nest in long grass (often at the base of hedgerows). Most solitary bees nest by making little tunnels in bare soil, while a small number nest in existing cavities in dry stone walls, masonry or wood.
Safety
Bees need to be protected from insecticides. Equally, they need areas of food and shelter that are free from herbicides and fungicides.
Five actions for Bee friendly farming
- Maintain native flowering hedgerows
- Allow wildflowers to grow around the farm
- Provide nesting places for wild bees
- Minimise artificial fertiliser use
- Reduce pesticide inputs
For more information you can download ‘Helping pollincators locally‘.
