Yes. Bees in the UK are in serious decline. Thirteen bee species are already extinct here. Another thirty-five are under threat. The numbers tell a hard story, and so do the causes behind them.
The numbers
- 13 UK bee species are now extinct.
- 35 more species are under threat.
- 97% of flower-rich meadows have been lost since the 1930s.
- Bees contribute around 691 million pounds to the UK economy each year.
- Replacing their work by hand would cost an estimated 1.8 billion pounds a year.
- About 80% of UK wildflowers rely on insect pollination.
Which species are most at risk
Some bees have fared worse than others. The great yellow bumblebee was once widespread and now clings on in the far north of Scotland. The shrill carder bee is one of the rarest bumblebees in the country. Many solitary species, which most people never notice, have quietly vanished from large areas.
The main causes
Bee decline has more than one cause. They stack up and feed into each other.
- Habitat loss: the loss of flower-rich meadows and the spread of intensive farmland leave bees with less to eat.
- Pesticides: neonicotinoids harm a bee’s ability to navigate and breed.
- Climate change: warmer, less stable seasons throw out the timing of flowers and bee emergence.
- Disease: the Varroa destructor mite weakens honeybee colonies and spreads viruses.
What is being done
There is work under way. Agri-environment schemes pay farmers to leave field margins and sow wildflowers. Towns and cities are planting wildflower corridors along verges and in parks. The No Mow May campaign asks people to leave their lawns to grow. Charities such as Buglife and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust track species and restore habitat. DEFRA sets the rules on pesticides and land use.
What you can do
Small actions add up when many people take them. Plant the best plants for bees in the UK. Avoid pesticides in your garden. Leave a patch to grow wild. In towns, see how to help bees in urban areas. Learn when bees are most active in the UK so you know when they need you.
To understand the causes in depth, read why are bees dying in the UK. And carry our bee revival kit so you are ready to help a bee you find. Here is how to help a bee you find.