Source: Pixabay/Ippicture

How to help bees: 8 practical action steps YOU can take to befriend bees and make a real difference

The good news is there are plenty of ways you can get involved and you don’t need to become a beekeeper — unless that kind of thing gives you a buzz!

Helping bees is easier than you might think

The news is abuzz with hair-raising headlines about global bee health, but what can we actually DO as individuals to help our little friends? The good news is there are plenty of ways you can get involved. Here are 8 ways YOU can do your bit to help bees wherever you live.

How to help bees Save the bees with these simple and practical action steps. Source: Facebook/BrightVibes

You can take action today and help make our world a healthier place for bees

By now we have all heard the horror stories that bees are facing a hard time, but you may not realise we can all do our bit to help save the bees, and some of the steps you can take are really simple and have a huge impact. 

Don’t worry, you certainly don’t need to become a beekeeper to make a big difference (unless you really want to), and at the same time you’ll also be helping many other pollinators who are facing many of the same serious issues as honey bees.

You need only a tiny plot of land for a bee garden — a window box, a rooftop or a green space in your community — to create an inviting oasis for bees. Planting flowers – especially ones indigenous to your area – helps feed bees and other valuable pollinators.
1. Plant a bee garden: One of the best answers to how to save the bees is “plant flowers” You need only a tiny plot of land for a bee garden — a window box, a rooftop or a green space in your community — to create an inviting oasis for bees. Planting flowers – especially ones indigenous to your area – helps feed bees and other valuable pollinators. Source: Pixabay/VMonte
If you want to help save the bees, try natural methods of pest control such as putting up bird boxes and blasting aphids with water. You could even put a ladybug/ladybird house near your plants to eat any aphids. Remember that wasps are a gardener's friend too and most insect species are beneficial or harmless.
2. Cut out toxic insecticides! If you want to help save the bees, try natural methods of pest control such as putting up bird boxes and blasting aphids with water. You could even put a ladybug/ladybird house near your plants to eat any aphids. Remember that wasps are a gardener’s friend too and most insect species are beneficial or harmless. Source: Pixabay/Ekamelev
Be on the lookout for local organically grown fruits, veg and honey that help support beekeepers in your area. By supporting local beekeepers who nurture their colonies you are directly contributing to bee welfare.
3. Buy local and support your local beekeeper Be on the lookout for local organically grown fruits, veg and honey that help support beekeepers in your area. By supporting local beekeepers who nurture their colonies you are directly contributing to bee welfare. Source: Pixabay/Pexels
A bundle of hollow canes makes a cosy home for solitary bees. If you are making a solitary bee house, use only untreated wood. Some bumblebee species like a bird box or an upturned plant pot (with holes) located in a safe, shady area.
4. Create and protect bee nest sites A bundle of hollow canes makes a cosy home for solitary bees. If you are making a solitary bee house, use only untreated wood. Some bumblebee species like a bird box or an upturned plant pot (with holes) located in a safe, shady area. Source: Pixabay/Bananebrei
Bumblebee nests usually only last a season and most solitary species are unlikely to cause a problem. Most bees rarely sting unless provoked.
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5. If you come across a wild bee nest, please try not to disturb it Bumblebee nests usually only last a season and most solitary species are unlikely to cause a problem. Most bees rarely sting unless provoked.
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A beekeeper will be happy to help and if possible, the bees can be safely relocated to a secure and permanent new home.
6. Don’t panic! If you are worried about a honey bee swarm or nest, contact a local beekeeper A beekeeper will be happy to help and if possible, the bees can be safely relocated to a secure and permanent new home. Source: Pixabay/MabelAmber
If you already have a green thumb and plants available for pollination, you can register your space to be included on the Pollinator Partnership's database. The S.H.A.R.E. map collects pollinator habitats from all over the world in an effort to build the community
7. Register with the Pollen Partnership If you already have a green thumb and plants available for pollination, you can register your space to be included on the Pollinator Partnership’s database. The S.H.A.R.E. map collects pollinator habitats from all over the world in an effort to build the community Source: Pollinator.org
One way to directly impact the health of your local ecosystem is by starting your very own honeybee hive — not only will you get the added benefits of bee products such as raw honey and beeswax, but imagine the satisfaction and joy derived from working with a hive — Contact your local beekeeping club for more information.
8. Become a beekeeper and start your own honeybee hive! How cool would that bee? One way to directly impact the health of your local ecosystem is by starting your very own honeybee hive — not only will you get the added benefits of bee products such as raw honey and beeswax, but imagine the satisfaction and joy derived from working with a hive — Contact your local beekeeping club for more information. Source: Pixabay/BusinessHelper

Pass it on! Let’s create a buzz about this!

Share and help us spread the word about the importance of befriending bees and what each of us can do to help our busy buzzy little buddies.

Check out our article on the EU pesticide ban

The world’s most common insecticides will be banned from all European agricultural fields within 6 months in order to protect both wild and honeybees, and this is fantastic news because our world would be a very different place if bees didn’t exist.

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