I just found out TWO exciting bits of news about initiatives to help our struggling pollinators, so couldn't resist a quick post!
Firstly, news came out today about a pollinator highway that will be built throughout Northern Ireland. It sets out 15 routes, each 3km wide, where conservationists and councils are concentrating their efforts in planting wild flowers. This will mean hungry pollinators can easily move throughout Ireland. Networks like this can really spell the difference between thriving and extinction.
Secondly, Burt's Bees, a cosmetics company, have committed to funding the mapping of the world's 6,000 bee species. Mapping bee species will enable more pollinator habitat
networks, like the one above, to be created around the world. This has the potential to stop the major pollinator declines we are seeing today, and is in conjunction with a much bigger project- the Half-Earth Project.
Check out this video for a taster of what the Half-Earth Project is about. Hope you're as buzzing about this great news as I am, happy Friday!
Hi Gabriella. Thanks so much for your comment.
There are, it's so great! Here's a screen shot from Buglife of the map of the UK showing how they're all over the place:
Regarding cosmetics, that's a really great question. It can be so hard to tell! If a product is Fairtrade, vegan and organic, it should be fairly sustainable. Some good companies for this are Lush and PHB ethical beauty. Here is a website which shows ethical/ sustainable ratings of various cosmetics companies: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/health-beauty/shopping-guide/make-up . In general, using less, and buying locally made products with minimal packaging is a good start. Hope that helps!
There's loads of B-lines around South Devon!
Are there any other cosmetic brands to look out for, that are making a proper effort to be sustainable?