Here’s why you should put a spoonful of sugar in your garden before you leave the house

Some people don’t like bees for fear of getting stung or because they bother them. But the fact that these little insects are disappearing is actually alarming; they are in fact essential for the balance of ecosystems.

You don’t have to be a tree lover to respect the environment you live in, and luckily, there are some surprisingly simple things anyone can do to save the planet.

The importance of bees

Sir David Attenborough, 92, has fought for animals, the environment and nature his entire life.

a spoon of sugar in your garden

This British zoologist and author is best known as a television presenter. This living legend has an important message that everyone should hear: “If bees were to disappear from the face of the earth, humans would only have 4 years to live,” he wrote on Facebook recently.

David Attenborough is certainly not the first to issue this serious warning, but his message reminds us that this is an issue we should all take seriously. They may seem small and insignificant, but bees have a huge task, almost a third of the food we eat is pollinated by these insects.

Some 84% of crops grown for human consumption, and hundreds of different plant types require bees and other insects to pollinate them in order to increase their yields and quality. These include most fruits and vegetables, nuts, coffee and tea… etc. Plants grown as fodder for dairy cows and other animals are also pollinated by bees. And it’s not just food crops that depend on bee pollination, cotton too. As a result, the global annual pollination of bees for crops is estimated at $ 170 billion.

But beyond their monetary value in maintaining our food supply, bees also make invaluable contributions to ecosystems around the world. The seeds, fruits and berries eaten by birds and small mammals all come from plants pollinated by bees, making them guardians of the food chain and of species biodiversity.

Bees need flowers for food, while flowers need bees for reproduction. Unlike other insects, nectar and pollen from flowering plants are the bees’ only food source, and the sweet nectar drink energizes adult bees. Pollen is a high protein food for bee babies.

In the process of foraging, bees are designed to pollinate. If you look at a female bee or a bumblebee on a flower, you will see that it has pollen balls on its hind legs. These are collected and then brought back to the hive to feed the young after having fertilized the flowers.

A wake-up call and a hope

According to David Attenborough, Over the past 5 years, the bee population has declined by a third. But the situation is not hopeless. There is one thing we can all do and it’s an idea that is spreading like wildfire right now.

David Attenborough offers a simple tip everyone should try: Mix sugar and water in a spoon and leave it in your garden. It could save your life and save the planet.

a spoon of sugar in your garden

The famous zoologist also claimed that bees can be tired and not have enough energy to return to the hive, which can often lead to their demise. If you find a tired bee in your house, Attenborough suggests a simple trick of mixing sugar and water that will help re-energize the exhausted bee. Just mix two tablespoons of white sugar with one tablespoon of water, and spoon the mixture into a place the bee can reach.

Another way to help bees thrive is to plant flowers on your balcony or let wildflowers take over a corner of your garden. Local bees will love it! Please share this crucial information so you can save the bees and our planet!