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Build a better world for bugs this Insect Week

(C) George Cook

Did you know that 41% of insect species face extinction? The loss of their habitats and overuse of pesticides are two major reasons why these little creatures are dying out eight times faster than large mammals.

Without insects many birds, bats, reptiles amphibians, small mammals and fish would die out as they would have nothing to eat. Not to mention that 87% of all plant species require animal pollination, most of it delivered by insects – that is pretty much all of them except grasses and conifers. In addition, 3 out of 4 of all the crops that we grow require pollination by insects. They are vital to our ecosystem, and they need our help.

We’re helping to put insects into recovery through our Action for Insects campaign, giving you all the guidance you need to make a difference at home. And what better time to sign up than during Insect Week (20 – 26 June)?

Sign up today

Insect Week was set up by the Royal Entomological Society to encourage people of all ages to learn more about the beautiful mini-beasts we share this planet with. Over one million species of insects have been described and named worldwide, with more than 24,000 species in the UK alone.

So what action can you take to help? Starting right now, you can make small changes in your home, lifestyle and community that will help these fascinating creatures.

Let your garden grow wild

White legged damselfly on a daisy

White legged damselfly (C) Rhiannon Doherty

No Mow May might have been and gone, but one simple thing you can always do to provide habitats and food for our tiny friends is to let your garden flourish! You can leave a small patch or let your whole lawn spring to life, and planting wildflowers and pollinator-friendly plants and seeds will also help to make sure insects have a place to call home.

You can buy wildflower packs and have a chat about wildlife-friendly gardening with our team at Grow Wilder, or buy some of our seeds online to get you started.

Help create habitats

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If you want to make something in your outdoor space which will benefit insects, why not start a bee hotel, a log shelter, a beetle bucket, or even a bug mansion? There are so many activities you and the family can get involved in over the summer which allow mini-beasts to thrive, check out the 'Ways to help wildlife' section of our website for our how-to guides and inspiration.

Actions you can take today

Go chemical-free in your garden

A rose chafer on a rosa rugosa

A rose chafer on a rosa rugosa (C) Fern Elias-Stagg

Gardening without chemicals is a good way to ensure that the food and plants you grow are free of pesticides or chemicals, thriving without the extra expense of dangerous products that are harmful to our wildlife. If you’ve used chemicals in the past, this might sound like an invitation to every insect from miles around to chomp its way through your garden. But, with time and patience, you’ll end up with a rewarding, healthier garden for ditching the chemicals.

Our top tip for going chemical-free is to ensure your garden has as much variety as possible so that no one species will be able to gain control. The more complex and varied your garden is, the more resilient it becomes. In the end, you’ll wonder why you ever needed chemicals in the first place. You can find out more about what we’d recommend you do for common gardening problems without resorting to chemicals on this dedicated webpage.

If you've been inspired to make a difference for these vitally important creatures, sign up to take Action for Insects today

Sign up now 

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