Authors: Baldock, Katherine;

Animal pollinators are currently the focus of international concern as numerous studies document their declines and the multiple threats they are facing. Pollination services by animals are crucial for healthy ecosystems as well as food security via pollination of crops. Land use change is one of the main drivers of pollinator declines, with urbanisation regarded as major threat to biodiversity.

I present findings from research on plant-pollinator communities in UK urban landscapes including the Urban Pollinators Project, a national scale study of insect pollinators in UK towns and cities involving academic and practitioner partners. We investigated three questions: (1) Where is the UK’s pollinator biodiversity? (2) Where are the hotspots of pollinator biodiversity in urban areas? (3) How can we help conserve pollinators in urban areas? I also describe patterns of floral resource availability across cities, including the important role of residential gardens.

Managing urban landscapes for pollinator conservation requires collaboration with a range of stakeholder partners. I highlight knowledge exchange activities with policymakers, practitioners and conservation organisations that aim to enhance the understanding and development of optimal land management practices that benefit urban pollinators.