Monocultures, the agricultural practice of growing a single crop over large areas, are common in modern farming due to their economic efficiency. They simplify planting, harvesting and pest control, often boosting yields and farm machinery is built around the practice. However, this uniformity can make the crop more vulnerable to pests and diseases, as a single pathogen or insect outbreak can quickly spread through genetically identical plants.
For pollinators, monocultures provide an unreliable food supply. Many crops flower for only a few weeks, during which they may offer abundant nectar and pollen. But once flowering ends, these resources vanish, leaving insects to search for alternative forage. Given that most bees in the UK have a limited foraging range, often less than 600 metres, and relatively short adult lifespans, the brief availability of food can pose a serious challenge. Moreover, crop types and planting schedules often change from year to year, reducing the predictability of food sources for pollinators. This highlights the importance of having more stable and diverse foraging habitats within and around farmland.
Semi-natural habitats such as hedgerows and field margins can provide a continuous and varied supply of nectar and pollen throughout the year. This variety is essential for sustaining healthy pollinator populations, especially in landscapes where natural habitats are fragmented. A field margin full of wildflowers, hedgerows in bloom, or even a mix of flowering crops can help support pollinators beyond the narrow flowering window of a single crop. In turn, a stable and diverse pollinator population supports agricultural productivity, particularly for crops that rely on insect pollination.
The relationship between flowering plants and pollinators is the result of millions of years of co-evolution. Different bee species have evolved distinct physical traits that suit them to particular flowers. One such a trait is the length of their tongue. For example, long-tongued bees such as the garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) are well-suited to forage from deep, tubular flowers such as honeysuckle, while short-tongued species like our yellow-faced bees (Hylaeus spp) prefer shallower blooms such as asters. This specialisation means that a diverse plant community can support a wide range of pollinator species. Protecting and enhancing plant diversity in agricultural landscapes, or any landscape for that matter, a resilient and effective pollination system.
Even in a small garden, plant diversity can make a real difference. Growing a variety of flowers that bloom at different times of year helps provide a steady supply of nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators. Choosing native species, avoiding pesticides, and leaving a patch of wildness can all help support insect life. While large-scale farming practices shape much of the countryside, gardens, balconies and allotments offer valuable refuges where pollinators can thrive. Every patch of planting, however modest, plays a part in creating a more resilient landscape. If you’d like some inspiration on which plants to pick for your space, you can find “The Best Plants for Pollinators Matrix – by Mark Patterson of Api:Cultural”, a great tool to do exactly that!
