Five simple actions to help pollinators such as planting more bee-friendly flowers and cutting grass less often will support the vital contribution these insects make to our economy.
The five actions formed part of a call to action launched by Environment Minister Lord de Mauley at a conference organised by Plantlife, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and The Wildlife Trusts, to encourage people to do their bit to help insects such bees and butterflies.
Lord de Mauley said: "Pollinators such as bees are vital to the environment and the economy and I want to make sure that we do all we can to safeguard them.
"That’s why we are encouraging everyone to take a few simple actions and play their part in helping protect our bees and butterflies. We will be publishing a nationwide strategy for pollinators later this year to set out everything that we can do to help pollinators flourish."
Five simple actions
Whether people live in a town or in the countryside, they are being urged to help create or improve a habitat for pollinators in five simple ways:
- Grow more nectar- and pollen-rich flowers, shrubs and trees
- Leave patches of land to grow wild
- Cut grass less often
- Avoid disturbing or destroying nesting or hibernating insects
- Think carefully about whether to use pesticides
The five simple actions were drawn up with experts from Natural England, the Food and Environment Research Agency, conservation charities and the research community.
Visit the www.beesneeds.org.uk website for more information on the call to action.
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