How pollinator-friendly is the City of London?

Approximately one-third of the food humans consume is highly dependent on animal pollination. However, pollinators are in decline. Pollinating London Together (PLT) is working with schools, community groups, private businesses and the public to spread awareness of the diversity and importance of pollinators. PLT has also assessed the diversity of flower-visiting insects and pollinator-friendly planting in and near the City of London. Through transect surveys done at 63 sites between April and October 2023, 9606 flower-visiting insects were identified and recorded, including the European honeybee (Apis mellifera), 10 bumblebee species, 33 solitary bee species, 23 hoverfly species, 5 butterfly species, and 3 moth species. Flower-visiting insects were recorded on 72% of surveyed flowering plants species in the City of London with the top three plant genera for insect visits being Salvia, Rudbeckia, and Nepeta. Most non-honeybee bee species were cavity-nesters (98%), and the rest were ground-nesters (2%). This finding may reflect the limited availability of suitable nesting habitat for ground-nesting bees. The diversity and abundance of pollinators can be enhanced in urban habitats by providing suitable food and nesting resources.