Bees have such an important role in the current ecosystem and their roles are vital and often overlooked by many of us, often thinking that bees are pests and constantly swatting them away at the family BBQ (yes you, don't deny it). They are actually really vital in the pollination process. If you think about it, without bees there would be no movement of pollen from the male to female plants out there. This is something that nature cannot do without help from bees. They also provide the vital recourses for other species to survive. For Example, their honey is a source of food as well as practical uses for the wax they produce.
Bees are essential in the growth of other foods like fruits and vegetables due to their pollination and without this we would have less agricultural goods available to us. Another thing bees do is give us the beautiful landscape that we see on a day to day basis while on our lockdown walks. They support in floral growth and provide extremely attractive habitats for other animals such as insects and birds.
Since 1996 it has been identified that the economic increase as a result of bees was 191 percent. This was an increase in £431 million between 1996 to 2012.
For many years it has been discussed that the decline in bee populations was the direct result in the use of crop chemicals in the agricultural. Over the past 80 years there has been an increase in their use. Not only that but the over use of herbicides has contributed to the killing of flowering plants as well as weeds. As a result the land is not suitable for the plants needed for bees. With farmers also batching crops, there has been less need for hedgerows and areas of woodland meaning bees have to venture further afield to locate habitat. This results in difficulty feeding and nesting often decreasing their survival.
It is estimated that bees contribute a staggering £651 million to the UK economy a year.
When asked to think of foods eaten thanks to bees pollinating, it can be tricky to reel them off and name them. The obvious one is Honey. Other foods include fruits such as apples, pears, tangerines, blueberries to name a few. In terms of vegetables we have cucumbers, peppers and broccoli. One surprising commodity is Coffee. I never thought coffee production relied so much on bees!
If that wasn't enough, It is also thought that Honey’s antioxidants are reputed to play a part in reducing certain diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes as well as reducing stress.
Image credits:
'Bee in pink flower' from Pexels, royalty free images.
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