Sir David Attenborough has called on the British public to leave a spoonful of sugar water in their gardens this summer, particularly during hot spells, to help revive exhausted bees. The naturalist and broadcaster suggests that bees often appear dead or dying when they are simply tired and lack the energy to return to their hives.
According to Attenborough, a simple solution of two tablespoons of white granulated sugar mixed with one tablespoon of water can provide a vital energy boost to a tired bee. He advises placing the mixture on a spoon for the bee to reach, warning that without such intervention, exhausted bees may be swept away or die.
Bees are crucial to the ecosystem, pollinating nearly a third of the food we eat and feeding 90 per cent of the global population. However, their numbers are declining dramatically due to pesticides, urbanisation, and climate change. Attenborough has previously warned that if bees were to disappear, humans would have just four years left to live.
