Wildflowers for pollinators: Helping the humble hoverfly

When people think of pollinators, the first insects that come to mind are bees and butterflies, but they’re not the only pollinators under threat. Professor Jeff Ollerton, one of the world’s leading experts on pollinators, says hoverflies are faring particularly badly. In decline since the mid-1980s, one-third of hoverfly species are showing long-term decline.  

This worrying trend is another great motivator to raise £5,000 to create an ideal habitat for pollinators to thrive. Thank you if you have already donated to our summer appeal to establish a pollinator paradise at Pierrepont Farm in Surrey, but we still need more donations.  

The hoverfly, an unsung pollinating hero, has more than 280 species in the UK, many of which have evolved to look like bees and wasps, a cunning mimicry that helps them to deter predators. Unlike their sting-equipped lookalikes, hoverflies are completely harmless.  

Hoverflies get their name from their ability to hover almost motionless in the air, darting forward or sideways with speed and precision. This aerial agility not only makes them fascinating to watch but also very efficient at visiting flowers in succession, transferring pollen as they go. While bees collect pollen to feed their larvae, adult hoverflies feed on it directly, along with nectar, making them frequent flower visitors. 

Hoverflies may lack the fame of bees or the showy glamour of butterflies, but they are indispensable allies in the UK’s ecosystems. From pollinating wildflowers and crops to controlling pests and recycling nutrients, they play multiple roles that underpin biodiversity and food production. Their mimicry, migrations, and varied life cycles make them not only ecologically significant but endlessly interesting. 

Next time you spot a tiny black-and-yellow insect hovering or darting among the flowers, pause and appreciate one of nature’s most effective and overlooked pollinators: the humble hoverfly. 

With your help, our area of scrubland at Pierrepont Farm, Surrey, will be transformed by volunteers into a space where hoverflies and all the other pollinating insects can thrive. 

The £5,000 target will fund: 

• Scrub clearance  

• Native wildflower seeds and plug plants  

• Soil preparation and habitat enhancements  

Help Us Bring Wildflowers to Life 

If you love wildflowers and want to help pollinators like the hoverfly, please consider donating to our Wildflowers for pollinators appeal.  

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