We may not realise at first, but all living creatures play an important part in our ecosystem. Even the smallest of insects can make a big difference, from pollinating plants to enriching soil. Since 1970, over 40% of insect species have declined in Britain and a third are endangered. Although mammals, birds and reptiles are also declining, we’re losing insects at a rate of 8 times faster which equates to a loss of 2.5% of the world’s insects a year. What is causing a loss of wildlife in the UK? Intensive farming has been identified as one of the primary drivers of wildlife decline, mainly due to the heavy use of artificial pesticides.

We need insects to pollinate the crops we depend so much on to feed the world. Over 70% of commercial crops rely on pollinators. That’s three quarters of food crops and 1 in 3 mouthfuls of food. Without pollinators, we wouldn’t have potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, coffee, chocolate or even the cotton needed to make our clothes. Bees are important pollinators (read about the importance of Honey Bees here), but other pollinators such as flies, beetles, moths, butterflies, wasps, ants, birds and even bats are equally vital. These creatures transfer the nectar from plant to plant, allowing for fertilisation and production of fruits and seeds.