They’re great pollinators and are vital in helping produce the food we eat. In fact, did you know, bees pollinate around a third of everything we eat?
There are 24 species of bumblebee in the UK but there are only eight common species that can be found in most places across the country; these include the white tailed, red tailed, buff tailed, garden bee, heath bee, common carder, tree bee and early bee.
Sadly, our beautiful bumblebees are disappearing at a worrying rate as a result of pesticides, habitat loss and disease. Seven species have already declined by more than 50% in the last 25 years and three UK bumblebee species have gone extinct!
That’s why it’s important we do all we can to help them. Watch the short film below to see what the Chester Zoo horticulture team have been working on in the zoo to help encourage bumblebees:
Want to do your bit to help protect our precious bees? Find out how you can get your garden buzzing with bees, here >