The Environment Trust in Twickenham launched an appeal for the protection of bees to mark Endangered Species Day 2019.

According to The World Bee Project, bees are responsible for pollinating plant species that provide 77 per cent of the world's food supply, but bee populations are collapsing across the globe.

The United Nations recently highlighted the threat to bee colonies posed by pesticides, invasive species and land-use change worldwide, and the Environment Trust are supporting calls from them and other concerned bodies for residents in the UK to help protect bees.

Berny Simcox, the CEO of Environment Trust, highlighted some simple actions that residents in Twickenham and the wider area can take to help protect bees from these growing dangers.

Ms Simcox said: "We believe there are many actions people can take to protect species at risk, such as bees. Habitat loss is the main reason for the decline in the bee population, along with the use of insecticides and climate change."

"We can all help stop this decline by growing patches of wildflowers and weeds in our garden to attract bees.

As a charity, we are also doing our bit this year with a number of bee friendly events this spring and summer, which are both educational and fun," she added.

So far this year, the Environment Trust have held a series of plant sales that help keep wildlife in the area healthy.

In June, the Environment Trust will join with Petersham Nurseries in Richmond to host a father and child hands-on event where teams will create mini bee nurseries (pictured).

Ms Simcox went on to urge everyone in the borough and throughout the South West to consider planting bee-friendly plants like Lavender or Rosemary in green spaces they have access to for today's Endangered Species Day 2019.

"On Endangered Species Day we encourage everyone that can to consider planting some bee friendly plants in their garden to attract the bees and butterflies.

"If everyone in our neighbourhood did this, we could really start to make a huge difference to our local bee population, as well as other insects and wildlife," she said.