Support a species: Help bees blossom

85% of the plant species on earth require bees to exist. No bees, fewer plants, poor diet. It’s that simple.

Bee facts

Honeybees are the only insects that produce food eaten by humans.

85% of plants require pollination by bees.

A single honeybee produces 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in its life.

Plant bee-friendly flowers and plants (or pollinator friendly to also attract other pollinators such as butterflies, hoverflies, wasps and beetles).
Bug hotels either purchased or made using twigs, netting, dead leaves and pinecones provide a perfect resting spot for solitary bees.
Be careful to avoid planting ornamental flowers in gardens which have been bred to be nectar free.
Support bee-keepers by buying local (including Loughborough Gold) honey.

The UK has lost 12 species of bee since 1900 and 35 more are at risk of extinction.
Changes in land use have resulted in more areas being urbanised or used for agriculture rather than pollinator-friendly habitats.
The UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows since the 1930s.
Use of pesticides can affect bees’ ability to navigate and reproduce.

There are over 270 species of bee in the UK, the honeybee perhaps being the most well-known (there are also the large furry bumblebees and other solitary bees).
On warm and still days in summer, bees can be found on many flowers, particularly in the wildflower meadows on campus.