Save Scotland’s WeeBees
01 May 2009
In April, we launched our ‘Save the WeeBees' campaign to raise awareness of the massive decline in the number of bumblebees and their importance within the human food chain.
The number of bumblebees in Britain has dropped by a significant 50% in under 60 years and at least three species of bumblebee have been lost to extinction with a fourth's existence currently in doubt.
We are targeting children, schools and adults to explain the importance of conserving, and increasing the number of, hedgerows and wildflowers throughout the Central Scotland Forest region to help preserve and improve the habitat of bumblebees and to support biodiversity. Bees are an excellent example of how small creatures exert a disproportionate influence on the health and wellbeing of the local landscape and of the people who live and work there.
Bumblebees are the most endearing and familiar of our insects and play a pivotal part in our eco system. A summer's day wouldn't be the same without the sight and sound of bees buzzing from flower to flower.
However, changes to farming practices and the management of our countryside have meant that there are fewer wildflowers in Scottish green space. Fewer flowers have meant that there is less pollen and nectar for bumblebees to feed on, which is why their numbers are falling.
The main aim of the campaign is to draw attention to the interdependency of human society and the natural environment, and the fact that small changes in human behaviour can have big impacts, both positive and negative.
For example, a major decline in numbers of bumblebees could eventually have a commercially significant effect on the way we eat, as bumblebees are the major pollinators of most of the vegetation that we regularly consume. Around 35% of the food from the agricultural industry is reliant on pollination from bumblebees.
We are grateful to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust for their advice and guidance and funding from Falkirk Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, the Tree Council and Scottish Natural Heritage, without which we couldn't have launched the campaign.
Find out more about the ‘Save the WeeBees' campaign here.
