Happy Bee Day!
Bees are so important to the health of our planet that they have their own special day.
🐝 World Bee Day is celebrated today, 20th May - the birthday of Anton Janša, a pioneer of beekeeping. It is a day for people to consider the importance of bees and how we can help to protect them.
🐝 Bees serve an important role as pollinators of flowers and crops. Around three quarters of the world’s leading crops rely on animal pollination, along with 90% of wild plants. Consequently approximately one third of the food we consume is reliant on pollinators like bees.
Threats to Bees
🐝 Around 13 species of bee have already become extinct in the UK and a further 35 species face the threat of extinction. The main threats to bees include:
Intensive farming - less farmland is being used for wildflower meadows while farmers are also using chemicals called pesticides, which can be lethal for bees, to protect their crops.
Climate change - as winters get milder, some plants and trees may bloom or blossom earlier in the year before bees are fully active, which can plants and trees from being pollinated and prevent bees from getting enough food.
Habitat loss - bees are losing further habitat spots through urban development and the maintenance of natural wildflower spots like grass verges.
So, how can we Help the Bees?
🐝 Grow your own bee- friendly plants.
🐝 Encourage the local council to create wildflower meadows and reduce the maintenance of natural wildflower spots like grass verges.
🐝 Let part of your garden grow wild during May, the busiest month for bees. Avoid mowing the lawn or trimming hedges to allow bees the chance to flourish.
🐝 P4 really enjoyed finding out all about these busy little creatures and created a beautiful display for the corridor to celebrate the humble and hardworking little bees!!
