The second charity we’re supporting for this year’s National Garden SleepOut is the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

In the past 80 years, the number of bees has been plummeting and two species of bumblebee have even become extinct in the UK. Bees are vital to the health of the ecosystem because they serve as pollinators — allowing flowers, fruit and veg to continue reproducing.

The UK countryside has changed over the years, reducing the number of wildflowers across the country, and with it the number of bees. BBCT works with farmers, policy-makers, and the public to spread awareness of bee-friendly planting methods to help bring our bees back in full force.

You can test how bee-friendly your garden is with the Trust’s Bee Kind tool, and you and your children can learn all about bumblebees over at Bumble Kids.

You can find more information on volunteering, donating, or BBCT’s projects at their website: wwww.bumblebeeconservation.org.