World Bee Day campaign encourages public to protect declining UK pollinators
In its current World Bee Day campaign, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is calling on the public to help dwindling bee numbers after numerous conservation organizations and community members establish new bee habitats around the United Kingdom. According to the charity, the bee population has decreased by about one third in the last three decades, putting many bees’ survival at risk and affecting crop pollination including broccoli, cabbage, and apples.Various reports on the RSPCS UK website and conservation projects associated with the South Downs National Park raised issues related to bee population decline and new initiatives taken to create wildflower habitats for bees and other insects.Over 100 hectares of wildflower habitat are being established in the South Downs National Park as part of the Bee Lines project. The organizers intend to create corridors for bees in farms, recreational areas, schools, roadside verges, cemeteries, football clubs, and golf courses. The habitats will benefit the dwindling bee population due to various environmental issues.According to the RSPCA, 13 species of bees have gone extinct in the UK, while 35 others are at risk of going extinct. According to the charity, there was more worrying information from their Animal Kindness Index, which found that less than half the population of 46 per cent consider bees as sentient beings who can experience things physically and emotionally.Several scientific studies confirm that bees are quite smart in many aspects. Some behaviors that scientists have confirmed include self-awareness, social learning, playing and solving problems. These findings are considered critical for conservation of pollinators in natural environments.Rebecca Machin, a British zoologist and wildlife expert associated with 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,” she added.The charity promoted the idea of making water stations for bees by homeowners when it is warm. According to guidance from the charity, one should make use of shallow containers, filling them with pebbles and ensuring that the insects can easily land on them when drinking. The RSPCA suggested positioning the container next to flowering plants and adding fresh rainwater to it throughout the week.Another piece of advice that wildlife experts gave was planting nectar-filled and pollen-producing native flowering plants for the bees at different times. Environmentalists think that small steps by individuals can make a great difference.Machin added, “We know that kind acts, however small, combine to create a more compassionate world. 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.”
