Bees Needs Week – July 2026

Taking place from 13th to 19th July, Bees Needs Week forms part of the governments umbrella campaign Wild Again: Restoring England’s Wildlife. The objective of the campaign is to improve conditions for the recovery of native species and habitats.

Bees and other pollinators such as moths, hoverflies and butterflies play a vital role in the food production cycle and without them many species wouldn’t survive, including humans.

The scale of the problem requires us all to do our part to support these little creatures that we rely on. To date:

• Half of our bumblebee species are in decline
• Three of UK bumblebee species have already gone extinct
• Seven bumblebee species have declined by more than 50% in the last 25 years
• Two-thirds of our moths and 71% of our butterflies are in longtime decline.(1)

So, what’s causing this decline and what can you do?

There are a number of reasons for the decline in pollinator numbers and they tend to be related. The reduction of wildflower habitats due to agriculture and urban development coupled with increased pesticide use and intense mowing regimes over the past 70 years has formed a wildlife illiteracy which needs to be reversed.

In addition these actions have contributed to accelerated man made climate change which has created extreme weather events that are also harmful to pollinators. This has created a somewhat vicious cycle.

All of which may seem like a bleak and irredeemable situation, but there are plenty of actions that we can all do to play our part in helping our pollinators recover. And there’s no better time to start than Bees Needs Week.

Here are 5 simple actions that anyone can take to help pollinators:

1. Grow more nectar rich flowers, shrubs and trees. Using window or balcony boxes are good options if you do not have a garden.
2. Let patches of garden and land grow wild.
3. Cut grass less often and not at all during May when pollinator larvae are at their most vulnerable.
4. Do not disturb insect nests and hibernation spots.
5. Think carefully about whether to use pesticides.(2)

Why not download the Bees Needs Week promotional pack and hold your own Bees Needs Week event in your workplace or have a volunteer day with an activity such as:

• bug hunts
• flower-insect timed counts (FIT Counts)
• community gardening sessions
• making bug hotels or wildflower bombs(2)

FIT counts are invaluable citizen science and require just 10 minutes watching flowers and insects, they can be carried our any time between April and September in good weather. Submitting a FIT count to The UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (POMS) contributes to better more meaningful data and knowledge of how pollinator numbers are changing. If you are interested in holding a FIT count with your workplace you can read more here.

DEFRA will also be hosting a series of events in London for anyone to join including:

• 13 July – Pollinating London Together’s annual pollinator count in London.

• 13 July – Pollinating London Together’s evening session, an in-person event exploring how data can drive effective action to protect pollinators in urban environments like the Square Mile and central London – tickets are free but you must prebook your place.

• 14 July – Bees’ Needs Science Festival at RHS Garden Wisley in collaboration with Defra, Bees’ Needs Week celebrates the importance of bees and other pollinators.
  • • discover exciting stands from the RHS Science team and a host of organisations, including Pollinating London Together, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, University of Surrey, Surrey Wildlife Trust and Surrey Nature Partnership

   

  • • hear from experts sharing insights and tips on bees and other pollinators

   

  • • enjoy honey tasting with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew pollinator research team

   

  • • take guided tours with garden staff to see pollinator-friendly features and planting at RHS Wisley

   

  • • join sessions throughout the day with members of the Pollinator Monitoring Scheme

   

• 19 July – pollinator-related engagement activities and an educational stand at  Kew Gardens

For more information and ideas about how you can help pollinators take a look at:

Pollinators – Buglife

The B-Lines Garden – Buglife

Pollinator Guidance – Buglife

1.Pollinators – Buglife

2.Bees’ Needs Week – GOV.UK