• A third of all the food crops that we grow need insects to pollinate them

  • 87% of all our plants are pollinated by animals - and most of this is delivered by insects

  • Without insects, we risk ecological collapse - putting in danger multitudes of birds, bats, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals and fish that rely on insects for food.

We have launched a new, free practical pack, Your Guide to Taking Action for Insects, which will help everyone do their bit in reversing decades of decline for the UK’s struggling bees, butterflies, moths, bugs and beetles. 

The colourful 20-page illustrated guide is packed full of tips, useful info, and links to finding out more, all aimed at helping individuals and families make simple yet crucial changes to helping insects through the ways we shop, garden and run our homes.

The guide has been authored by The Wildlife Trusts working with partner organisations including Buglife, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) and Garden Organic. It has been launched as part of a wider campaign called Action for Insects, which looks to reverse recent drastic population declines among insects. 

A recent report published by the campaign, authored by Professor David Goulson, concluded that 41% of insect species now faced extinction around the world, while population declines were widespread across other insect species. The report also highlighted the vital part played by insects in human food production and in their support of countless other birds, mammals and plants.

Action for Insects news

2020-07-10 New report calls for ambitious New report calls for ambitious pesticide reduction target
Friday 10 July, 2020
Today The Wildlife Trusts publish a new report ‘Reversing the decline of insects’ which shows h...
2020-06-01 Summer survey to spot insects Summer survey to spot insects
Monday 01 June, 2020
Can you spot the messenger of good tidings, the creature of habit and the gardener’s helpful bumblebee this sum...
2020-04-08 New guide encourages us all to New guide encourages us all to take urgent action for insects
Wednesday 08 April, 2020
Norfolk Wildlife Trust is launching a new practical pack, Your Guide to Taking Action for Insects, which will help ev...
2020-03-12 Grow a secret garden for butte Grow a secret garden for butterflies!
Thursday 12 March, 2020
This year’s Wild About Gardens campaign, run jointly by The Wildlife Trusts and Royal Horticultural Society (RH...
2019-07-17 The Emperor Returns The Emperor Returns
Wednesday 17 July, 2019
Once extinct butterfly confirmed in Norfolk wood Experts confirm the purple emperor butterfly has returned to Norfol...
2019-03-28 Badger, Ratty, Mole and Toad s Badger, Ratty, Mole and Toad strike out for a wilder future
Thursday 28 March, 2019
Sir David Attenborough, Stephen Fry, Catherine Tate, Alison Steadman and Asim Chaudhry have backed a new campaign fro...

Gemma Walker, Senior Community Officer at Norfolk Wildlife Trust said: 

“We’re delighted to be launching Your Guide to taking Action for Insects. The warmer weather of spring combined with the current restrictions placed upon everyone in response to the coronavirus means that people are spending more time in their gardens, yards and on their balconies. This guide provides people with advice on how to make positive changes to help insects, which will not only help the insects but boost morale too! We’re asking people to make whatever outdoor space they have into a better place for minibeasts, be it a window box, a garden or an allotment. 

“Our guide gives them the inspiration and the practical know-how to take a few simple steps to making a big difference to their local wildlife. Insects are one of the key building blocks of life on which we and countless other familiar species from hedgehogs to garden birds rely. If we follow the guide’s advice as gardeners, shoppers and homeowners we can turn the tide on insect declines.”
Wildlife Spotter Survey
Have you seen any of these insects in Norfolk? Add your sightings to the map!
Nature Recovery Network
Places for wildlife, from gardens to parks, connected to help wildlife move and thrive