Pollinators are essential for biodiversity and our wider environment. They maintain the diversity of wild flowers and support healthy ecosystems, particularly by helping plants to produce fruits and seeds which birds and other animals rely on.
They are not only of enormous value to agriculture, but are also valued and appreciated by the public and, as part of our natural world, contribute to our health and well-being.
There are at least 1500 species of insect pollinators in the UK. Most are native species of bumblebees, solitary bees, wasps, moths, butterflies, beetles and flies, with the honey bee (Apis mellifera) normally being domestic stock managed in hives by beekeepers.
Unfortunately pollinators face many pressures, including habitat loss, pests and diseases, extreme weather, competition from invasive species, climate change and pesticide use.
Our Pollinator Strategy sets out the actions we are taking in the Royal Parks to help reverse the decline in pollinator populations: