After recently rewatching the Bee Movie, I was reminded just how much we all have to thank bees for! From the crops that are dependent on our buzzing friends to the ecological balance they help maintain, their bodies might be small but the responsibilities they carry are heavy! Here are some ways to say thank you by beeing better to the bees:
South Africa (20 May 2025) — Recently, I re-watched the Bee Movie. Beyond the joy of revisiting a childhood favourite again, watching the animation through the lens of my (more informed) adult eyes got me thinking: have we done enough since the movie came out in 2007? Did we take its main message to do with the importance of our buzzing friends seriously enough?
Earlier this year, news outlets cautioned the drastic decline of honeybees in certain parts of the world. Bees face trouble from pesticides, habitat loss, unsustainable farming methods and of course, climate change. However, in other parts of the world like portions of Asia and Africa, populations have been increasing, largely due to proactive efforts.
This paints a bigger picture for us that says ‘there’s still hope for our buzzing friends’, but more action needs to be taken and maintained.
Why does this all matter? Here are two massive reasons: Bees are responsible for food security! In fact, according to the University of Pretoria, they pollinate over 75% of the world’s leading food crops.
Secondly, their role as pollinators (including wild bees) is essential for plants to reproduce which greatly impacts broader ecosystems. Without the bees, plant diversity would take a nose-dive and food chains would turn on their head, impacting all sorts of wildlife.
Today marks World Bee Day around the world in which we celebrate the estimated 20,000 bee species on our planet. And so, its as good a time as ever for us to revaluate how we can all bee better.
Bee Better to Bees By:
- Planting more indigenous flowers or trees.
- Supporting local beekeepers by buying raw or organic products.
- Buying from organic farmers; ones who do not use chemicals on their crops which impacts bees.
- Trying to minimise artificial lighting after dark (this can impact bee’s abilities to navigate)
- Helping bees in need with a sugar-water solution (equal parts water and granulated sugar left in a spoon near a tired bee).
- Letting your lawn live, whether you go into a no-mow era (manicured lawns aren’t great for biodiversity) or let a small patch grow wild, you’ll be helping bees out.
- Provide a home for solitary bees:
Solitary bees, of which there are approximately 1,300 species in South Africa live alone. If you build a bee and bug hotel, you create a haven for these incredible creatures and a few other beneficial insects!
You will need: a rectangular piece of wood with several different sized holes bored into it, which mimics natural breeding nests and attracts solitary bees. They use the holes as a safe breeding place and, once they have laid their eggs, they store food for their youngsters, seal the entrance and leave.
You will find many DIY guides on YouTube, from using store-bought supplies to reclaiming and reusing things around the house.
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