Tracking Bees & Pollinators

Bees and other pollinators are essential to the health of our gardens, ecosystems, and food supply. However, the population of these vital creatures has been declining over recent years due to factors like habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. As gardeners and nature enthusiasts, it’s our responsibility to encourage and support these important species, and getting an idea of how many pollinators visit your garden gives you a good idea of how well pollinators in your area are doing. Luckily, there are several initiatives to make it easy to track the health of bee and pollinator populations right in our own backyards. In this article, we’ll explore how you can get involved in monitoring bees and pollinators in your garden or local area.

Why Monitoring Bees and Pollinators Matters

Pollinators, particularly bees, play a crucial role in fertilising plants, enabling the production of fruits, seeds, and plants that form the base of many food chains. Without them, many plants—including much of our food—would struggle to reproduce. Monitoring these populations helps scientists and conservationists track changes over time and identify areas in need of conservation efforts. By keeping an eye on the pollinators in your garden, you can contribute valuable data to help support their survival. It also gives you the opportunity to see which pollinators visit your garden and which species need a little more help.

The Big Butterfly Count

While primarily focused on butterflies, the Big Butterfly Count is an excellent opportunity for gardeners to get involved in monitoring pollinators in general. The event takes place every summer, usually during a three-week period in July and August, when butterflies are most active. Participants are asked to count butterfly species in their gardens or local green spaces for 15 minutes on a sunny day and then report their findings.

Although the focus is on butterflies, the Big Butterfly Count provides insights into broader pollinator populations. Many species of bees and hoverflies share the same habitats as butterflies, so observing butterfly numbers can also give an indication of the health of other pollinators in your garden. The data collected from the count helps researchers monitor the status of butterfly populations and track changes in biodiversity across the UK.

How to Participate:

• Visit the Big Butterfly Count website and register for the event.
• Choose a sunny spot in your garden or local park to count butterflies.
• Spend 15 minutes counting and identifying butterfly species.
• Submit your results online.

BeeWalk

BeeWalk is a national monitoring scheme designed specifically for tracking the health of bee populations in the UK. Volunteers across the country walk a set route, recording the bees they spot and the types of plants they visit. The data gathered helps scientists understand trends in bee populations, distribution, and the effects of environmental changes.

The BeeWalk initiative is great for gardeners who want to contribute to more detailed monitoring efforts. By observing bee species in different garden environments, you can contribute data that helps scientists track long-term population trends, spot emerging issues like habitat loss, and assess the effectiveness of pollinator-friendly gardening practices.

How to Participate:

• Register on the BeeWalk website and choose a route near you or create your own route.
• Walk the route once a month, recording the species of bees you encounter and the plants they visit.
• Submit your data through the BeeWalk online portal.

UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (UK PoMS)

The UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (UK PoMS) is a long-term initiative aimed at assessing the status of pollinators across the UK, including bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and other insects. UK PoMS uses a combination of methods, including surveys of wildflowers, bees, and other pollinators, to gather data on their abundance and distribution. Volunteers play a critical role in this scheme by conducting monthly surveys and recording their findings.

What makes UK PoMS particularly valuable is its comprehensive approach to monitoring pollinator populations across different habitats, including gardens. This data helps identify regions where pollinators are thriving and areas that require conservation attention.

How to Participate:

• Visit the UK PoMS website to find out about survey locations and how to get involved.
• Conduct monthly surveys of a designated site, recording the presence of pollinators and the flowers they visit.
• Submit your findings through the UK PoMS online system.

How You Can Help in Your Own Garden

While participating in these initiatives is a fantastic way to contribute to nationwide efforts, there are also plenty of steps you can take directly in your garden to support pollinators.

• Plant a Pollinator-Friendly Garden: Include a variety of native flowering plants that provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators throughout the year. Plants like lavender, wildflowers, and native shrubs are excellent choices. Find more bee-friendly flowers here.
• Avoid Pesticides: Pesticides can harm bees and other pollinators. Try to use organic gardening methods and opt for natural pest control solutions.
• Create Bee Habitats: Bees need safe spaces to nest. You can create bee hotels, leave patches of bare soil for ground-nesting bees, or provide logs and stems for solitary bees.
• Support Wildflowers: Where possible, leave areas of your garden to grow wild, allowing native wildflowers to thrive. Wildflowers are a critical resource for many pollinators.

Monitoring Bee Populations

Monitoring bee and pollinator populations is a vital way for gardeners to get involved in conservation efforts. Whether you participate in the Big Butterfly Count, join BeeWalk, or contribute to the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme, your observations can help researchers understand and protect pollinators. With simple steps like creating pollinator-friendly habitats and supporting conservation initiatives, you can make a big difference in supporting healthy bee and pollinator populations in your garden.