IT’S World Bee Day on 20 May, and bees are some of the most effective pollinators we have – not just helping plants to grow, but helping crops including broccoli, cabbages and apples to thrive. But sadly, UK bee populations have reduced by around a third in the last 30 years – prompting the RSPCA to highlight what people can do to help the nation’s buzzing buddies.
Bees are so integral to our own survival – but according to the RSPCA’s Animal Kindness Index, less than half of people (46%) recognise them as sentient beings with the ability to have physical and emotional experiences – be they positive or negative. But this is something consistently debunked by scientific evidence, which shows that bees exhibit self-awareness, social learning, play behaviour and the ability to solve complex problems.
It comes amid fears for the future of many bees – with almost 13% of UK-based bee species under threat of extinction.
Rebecca Machin, wildlife expert at the RSPCA said: “Bees really are incredible insects – they do so much for us and have such a great level of understanding that people take for granted. Bees can perform incredibly complex tasks, have fascinating social lives, and are essential pollinators. It’s important to make sure we take care of them – and luckily everyone can do their bit to help.
“Being kind to animals isn’t just about cats and dogs – it’s about taking care of every kind of creature, and at the RSPCA we want to make the months ahead a Summer of Kindness.
“We know that kind acts, however small, combine to create a more compassionate world. And there are so many ways you can show your kindness to animals this summer. For bees, something as simple as planting native flowers, or creating a water station for them could go a long way in improving their welfare, and helping the population to thrive.
“These things make a real difference. Every kind act for animals is a vote for a better world for animals; and small, everyday gestures like this really do add up to a life-changing impact for us and other animals. We can’t do this alone, but we can if we act together.”
There are 270 species of bees in the UK – with 35 under threat of extinction, and 13 already lost. Major threats include habitat loss, pesticide use and the impacts of climate change.
Yet bees pollinate around 75% of leading global crops – and contribute to a whopping one third of the world’s food production. These buzzing little creatures are essential to our survival, travelling miles every single day to collect pollen and help our ecosystems thrive – and it can be thirsty work.
Initiatives like No Mow May have already got many of us thinking how to help pollinators – and now, as part of its Summer of Kindness, the RSPCA is highlighting the small acts people can take to help bees – including setting up a small drinking station for them.
