Action for Insects campaign

butterfly

Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography

Action for Insects

Our insects are in trouble

In the UK, our insect populations have suffered drastic declines, which are set to have far-reaching consequences for both wildlife and people. 

With a third of our food crops pollinated by insects, and as many as 87% of our plants pollinated by animals (and in the majority by insects) there is a lot to lose. Much of our wildlife, be it birds, bats, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals or fish, rely on insects for food. Without them, we risk the collapse of our natural world.

A report, Insect Declines and Why They Matter, published in November 2019 by an alliance of Wildlife Trusts in the south-west, brought together evidence that showed the loss of 50% or more of our insects since 1970, and the shocking reality that 41% of the Earth's remaining five million insect species are now 'threatened with extinction'.

Read the report: Insect Declines and Why They Matter 

Read the report: Reversing the Decline of Insects

What can be done?

Whilst the news for insects is bleak, there remains much that can be done to bring about their recovery, but fast action is required. Become an insect champion and download one of our free guides to help you and your community.

Take action at home or in your community

To showcase what is needed, The Wildlife Trusts commissioned a second report published in July 2020, Reversing the Decline of Insects, which looked at case studies around the UK that are working hard to bring back insects.

To reverse the decline of insects and allow them to thrive once more, The Wildlife Trusts want to see at least 30% of land and seas properly connected, better protected and suitably managed for nature. To achieve this, it requires us all to become insect champions, taking action at home and work, in our communities and schools.

It's also essential that there is a halt to the unnecessary use of pesticides where people live, work and farm, with support for all sectors to make the transition towards becoming pesticide-free.

Individuals

Take action for insects at home

To save our insects, we must all become insect champions. We have the perfect guides to help you take action at home, in your garden and in your community.

Download your guide
bee

Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography

Councils

Advice for local authorities on taking action for insects

Find out more
Schools

Take action for insects at school

Let's help insects everywhere! Our school guide will help your students to learn about insects and how to help their local environment. 

Download your school guide

Help save our bees

For the fourth year in a row the UK Government has approved the use of a pesticide so potent that a a single teaspoon could kill 1.25 billion bees. Tell the UK Government and  British Sugar why you want neonic-free sugar and nature-friendly farming. 

A bumblebee mimic hoverfly on a purple thistle flower. It's a fuzzy black and yellow hoverfly with a white tip to the abdomen, looking just like a bee. It's given away by its large eyes and short antennae

Volucella bombylans © Janet Packham

Back Nature-Friendly Beet Farmers

Ask British Sugar to help farmers sell neonic-free sugar.

Show your support

Examples of action being taken

We are taking action for insects up and down the UK. From restoring habitat, working with land managers and councils, to reintroducing species, Wildlife Trusts are helping to restore our insect populations and calling for this work to be scaled up so that we can see them thrive once more. We have developed a partnership with Pesticide Action Network to influence Local Authorities to reduce pesticide use, and to support the establishment of more 'pesticide-free towns'.

Other ways to help

We need your help

Support work to protect precious wildlife
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