Sir,
Providing enhanced food resources for our bees in agricultural areas should be a priority for farmers and policymakers alike (City gardens are honeypots for bees, Oct 6). While the article focuses on honeybees, improving habitat for all bee species benefits not only their conservation but farming productivity too.
Research shows that allocating just 2.2% of a farm to flower-rich habitat more than doubled the density of bumblebee colonies, which in turn boosts productivity. With insect pollination worth an estimated £13 billion across the EU, encouraging farmers to turn over more farmland to flower-rich areas could prove a worthwhile investment.
James Swyer
Press & Publications Manager
Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust