Bee-Cause they're worth it

Here at the Alliance we like to promote the outdoors and advocate people to enjoy it as part of their physical activities. In this blog, Sion Williams, Campaign Assistant of the Bee Cause Campaign, talks about protecting a key reason we have beautiful countryside, bees.

Lots of us get a real buzz from getting into the outdoors and away from it all. We all have our own reasons. Climbing a mountain in mid-Wales over New Year refreshed me and helped me to reconnect with nature after spending a little too long in the city.

Whether whizzing around on a mountain bike, canoeing along the coastline or hang gliding through the sky, the UK offers us incredible surroundings in which to enjoy our activity of choice.

There’s more to the great outdoors than great views and thrilling scenery. Our outdoor playground is home to wild species that are also special and a privilege to see.

Seeing a deer, a bird of prey or a special tree is a real treat especially when you know that 3 out of 5 UK wild species - from birds and bees to plants and marine creatures - are in decline. Yes, the rainforests are being lost but British nature is on the edge too.

Take our humble British bees. As they buzz about seeking food, they help keep our great outdoors looking great. Bees and other pollinating insects (like moths, hoverflies and ladybirds) support a thriving natural world and contribute to the visual beauty of the UK by helping to pollinate over 75% of our plants.

That means they also probably put many of the ingredients into the energy bar and sandwiches we take with us when hiking, biking or base-jumping. But many of our bee species are in trouble.

The number of bees in the UK has fallen dramatically in the past 60 years. Threats to bee habitats from poor planning, modern farming methods, pesticides, pests and diseases are all factors.

In response to these challenges Friends of the Earth has persuaded the Government to start drawing up a rescue plan. And, while that is being worked on. It is supporting the creation of Bee Worlds across the nation – spaces in towns and country alike across the UK that are good for bees and other pollinators.

If you’re interested in getting involved you can find out more and apply to create a Bee World by visiting our website - www.foe.co.uk/beeworlds

What is good for pollinators is also good for other insects, wildflowers, birds and other wildlife. And, we know that contact with nature enriches our lives. It is as essential for human health and wellbeing as decent local shops, schools and transport.

People who are keen on sports and outdoor recreation may recognise this intuitively from experience. We value the settings nature provides for everything from a casual kick-around to a couple of weeks caravanning in the countryside. I hope we can work together to protect it.

Friends of the Earth’s Bee Cause campaign has inspired practical action across the country to help bees, and has persuaded governments in England and Wales to produce action plans. But there’s still much more to be done to save this iconic species.

We’ve helped hundreds of people create habitat on buildings, in parks, on road verges and in areas around playing fields. There are already over 200 Bee Worlds. Now we're looking for new organisations to work with to double the number of Bee Worlds in 2015. If you’re still pondering a New Year’s resolution please consider protecting the great outdoors by getting involved in saving bees.
 

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