The Importance of Pollinators
Pollinators are vital for the survival of our ecosystems. Lucy discusses what pollinators do for us, and how we can help them in return.
The idyllic view of butterflies fluttering across ears of wheat, bees buzzing amongst meadow flowers and moths circulating under the moonlight is typical of an English summer scene. These moments are more than just idyllic, they are moments of life progressing. Pollinators create habitat and secure ecosystems by the way of reproduction in our flowering lands and often can be taken for granted. The use of neonicotinoids within agriculture has seen a deathly decline in our beloved pollinators, wiping out whole colonies at a time. As a society, we can help inform others about the use of such pesticides and also start to farm organically, both in our own back gardens, and also within the farming industry.
When you think of a pollinator do you think of a bee? Instinctively we think of the humble bumblebee and honey bee as pollinators, but a pollinator can be any animal or insect that moves pollen from any male flowering anther to the stigma of a female flower. Other pollinating insects include butterflies, moths, flies, beetles and wasps. Notably, larger animals can be classified as a pollinator such as bats and birds, which drink the nectar or feed off of pollen, transporting it when they move from one location to another. However, the main pollinating species is the honey bee, which makes up 80% of pollination to cultivated crops.
Pollinators by Alicia Hayden
Providing habitat for our pollinators is another great way to halt their decline. “Since the Second World War, we’ve lost 97% of our wildflower meadows, a vital habitat which pollinators depend on for food and shelter.” Urbanisation and small pockets of green land dissipating into neatly mown parks have disrupted food intake and travel distance for pollinators. The trend of neatly landscaped gardens reduces inhabitable space for many species. We should reject this approach in order to “rewild” and provide a much thriving landscape. Isabella Tree brought this approach to attention in her book ‘Rewilding’ that looks at traditional farmland and its effects on conservation. If you have a garden try to incorporate bee-friendly planting, leave areas to overgrow and provide a source of water. If you live in an urbanised area try to provide light relief to passing pollinators with window boxes planted up with seasonal flowers. Tubular and purple flowers such as Lavender, Foxgloves, and Buddleja are all great examples of bee-friendly planting. For seasonal growing guides visit Gardeners’ World, who have a comprehensive guide to all year round planting.
Planting flowers seems a simple task, yet knowing which plants are best for pollinators is important. Many plants have been adapted to look aesthetically pleasing but actually do little in the way of aiding pollinators. Nectar is often found at the base of a flower and within double flower heads, the nectar is often hidden as a result of thick dense petals. Pollinators are unaware of which flower will produce a rich source of nectar, so often energy is continually lost when visiting these plants. Dave Goulson’s books ‘The Garden Jungle’ and ‘A Buzz in the Meadow’ make important reading for anyone who wants to understand the importance of our pollinators. Goulson expresses, in great detail, the myriad of insects under our noses and what we can do as individuals to help them.
By helping pollinators we also help an abundance of species, creating an intrinsic, minute network and building up an ecosystem. Without pollinators, there would be less reproductive success and would cause the destruction of global food supplies. Each species linking can cause a detrimental effect when one is in decline, as it often will directly impact another. Building or creating homes for pollinators can also be a great way to help their survival. Different bee species like to nest and burrow in different ways. The RSPB has an easy guide on how to make a bee and bughouse from wooden offcuts and hollow plant stems. However, you can also buy pre-made nest boxes which can be more interactive. These are ideal if you want to study their activity and want to get children involved. Nurturing Nature has a wonderful solitary bee observation box which is ideal for Leafcutter and Mason bees.
As a society, we can do our bit to help protect our sacred pollinators and make sure we can secure a future for them. We are the pioneers to sustain a future for new generations and we need to work alongside nature in harmony to achieve this.
Thank you to Alicia Hayden for her wonderful illustration. You can find more of her work at @aliciahaydenwildlife.
Lucy Saunders
Lucy Saunders is an MA writing student best known for writing emotive nature pieces around specific wildlife species. Lucy has a keen interest in environmental concerns and how humans impact the land through agriculture and landscaping. Lucy has had work published in multiple independent publications along with her photographs and is working on her first selection of poems.
You can find her on Instagram @lucyjanesaunders .