News about Mark Douglas

In a partnership between Bee1 and outdoor paint manufacturer Cuprinol, resident beekeeper Mark Douglas warns of five mistakes gardeners make that can harm endangered species of bees in the UK.

As we prepare our outdoor spaces for summer gatherings and al fresco meals, it's important to consider some essential garden guests: bees. The impact of bees on our ecosystem extends far beyond pollinating our gardens -they contribute almost £700 million annually to the UK economy and perform 80 per cent of pollination, which includes one-third of the food we eat. However, in the past 24 years, the UK has lost 13 species of bees, with another 35 species under threat of extinction, according to outdoor paint manufacturer Cuprinol. In a bid to raise awareness about the importance of protecting pollinators, Cuprinol Garden Shades recently recruited a resident beekeeper, Mark Douglas, in a combined effort to support Bee1, a pollinator protection initiative. Mark shares the five crucial mistakes UK gardeners are making that can be detrimental to bee populations -  and what to do instead.