Today, the 20th of May, we celebrate World Bee Day! Did you know that bees, along with other animals such as butterflies, birds and beetles, are responsible for pollinating around 70% of all food? Because of how important bees are to food production and security, the United Nations created World Bee Day, to highlight the threats that they face and what we can all do to help these apex pollinators.

Without bees, we would not have crops such as apples, melons and broccoli. Some fruit, such as blueberries and cherries, are almost entirely dependent on pollination by honey bees. In addition, should bees no longer pollinate crops such as alfalfa and other grains used to feed cattle, meat and dairy production would be hugely affected.

Bee populations are under stress across the globe, with declines in colonies reported in Europe, Northern America, Asia and Africa, according to the  United Nations Environment Programme. The northern hemisphere has experienced an estimated 45% decrease in bee populations due to issues of monocrops, climate change and pesticide use.

While South African populations have not decreased this drastically, local bees still face the  challenge of habitat degradation. The Westin Cape Town Hotel is celebrating these little helpers by investigating opening up a bee sanctuary on their rooftop herb garden.

General Manager of The Westin, Leon Meyer, says: “We believe in ongoing sustainability and responsible usage of resources. As one of many sustainable projects at The Westin, we are encouraging South Africans to take action towards conserving bee habitats.”

The best way to help local honey bees, is to give them alternative habitats in our urban setting:

  • Create a bee friendly space – even a window container or potted plants will do.
  • Make use of ecological pesticides that will not harm pollinators.
  • Plant a bee friendly garden, with plants that attract pollinators such as basil, sage, thyme, lavender, watermelons, cucumbers and pumpkin.
  • Use indigenous trees that will offer bees a snack, such as African teak, African Wattle and Apple leaf.
  • Keep a shallow water source, such as a bird bath or a waterfall, in your garden for bees.