Pollinators are essential to our ecosystem and economy. They pollinate our wild trees and wild flowers which support insects and, in turn, everything further up the food chain. They pollinate our food crops too, contributing the equivalent of over £500 million a year to UK agriculture and food production by improving crop quality and quantity. Bees alone are responsible for a staggering 90% of the world's pollination. That includes around 70 British food crops like broccoli, carrots, parsnips, apples, raspberries and tomatoes. Without our bees, this service would cost the UK an estimated £1.8bn a year.
We have over 1,500 species of insect pollinator in the UK, including bees, moths, butterflies, beetles and hoverflies. But they’re in trouble. Faced with climate change, habitat loss, invasive species and other threats, this group of species show an average decrease in distribution of 18% since 1970 and too many face extinction, including 35 of our bee species. You can make a difference.
Give struggling wildlife a helping hand
Choosing flowers for their pollen and nectar value is increasingly popular, but when it comes to impact and maintenance, trees are hard to beat. They offer vital food and shelter on a much bigger scale and rather than needing to continually deadhead and replant every year, their bounty simply increases as they mature through each growing season.
Trees offer nectar, pollen and nesting sites for our crucial pollinators all year round, as well as cleaning the air, capturing carbon, reducing flooding and improving wellbeing. Considering their vast benefits, they’re incredible value for money – and the Woodland Trust’s subsidised tree packs offer even more bang for your buck. Available online from October-March – the main tree planting season – these packs are a great opportunity to transform your land for people and nature. The subsidy means you’ll pay as little as 43p per tree and delivery is free too.
The Plant for Pollinators pack has been tailored to provide nectar and nesting sites all year round and will bring beauty to your space as well as bountiful buzzing. Tree flowers in different seasons offer vital food, from the early flowers of hazel in January and March’s delicate blackthorn blossom to rowan’s frothy cream May flowers and the large pink summer blooms of dog rose. The leaves of each species offer food for a plethora of moth caterpillars too, which go on to pollinate some of our favourite fruit and veg, including peas, strawberries and radishes.
Start your tree planting journey today
Plant more for less with the Trust’s subsidised tree packs. Our native mixes make it easy and affordable to create green spaces that are good for people, wildlife and the environment. All sourced and grown in the UK and Ireland, our Plant for Pollinators pack contains 210 trees: 40 hawthorn, 30 blackthorn, 30 crab apple, 30 goat willow, 30 rowan, 30 hazel and 20 dog rose. Prices start from just £92.
Other packs are also available to suit different spaces and purposes, from helping vulnerable species to greening urban communities.
Visit the tree shop
The Woodland Trust is a registered charity (optional disclosure in England and Wales) No. 94344 and (optional disclosure in Scotland) No. SC038885. A non-profit making company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No. 1982873. Registered Office: Kempton Way, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6LL. The Woodland Trust logo is a registered trademark.
Follow The Woodland Trust on social media:
FB: @thewoodlandtrust X: @woodlandtrust Insta: @woodlandtrust TT: @woodland_trust YT: @woodlandtrust
-
Fowey good indeed: Six homes for sale on one of Cornwall's most beautiful stretches of waterThe Fowey Royal Regatta takes place this week — August 15–21 — prompting a look at some of the glorious places you could live in this magical spot.
-
Do you know your Famous Five from your Secret Seven? Find out in the Country Life Quiz of the Day, August 11, 2026It's Enid Blyton's birthday today so we thought we'd test your knowledge of one of Britain's best-selling authors.
-
The art of the country garden at DaylesfordOn July 2 this year, five experts shared their thoughts on the secret of creating the perfect rural sanctuary.
-
Rooms with a view: The new Oakwrights garden pavilion collectionA new collection of garden pavilions from Oakwrights offers hand-crafted structures designed for those who want to spend more time in their own great outdoors.
-
Homegrown heroes: The British stone from Artorius Faber which transformed Country Life's RHS Chelsea Flower Show standGeorge Saumarez Smith’s design for the floor of Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been brought to life by Artorius Faber.
-
Star of the show: How George Saumarez Smith's design for Country Life wowed visitors at the Chelsea Flower ShowThe Garden Lover’s Library, created by George Saumarez Smith for Country Life, dazzled visitors at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
-
Inspired by the past: How Munder Skiles blended old and new for Country Life's stand at the Chelsea Flower ShowOn Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, two striking designs by Munder Skiles demonstrated the exciting possibilities of combining inspiration from the past, artisanal skills, high-quality materials and cutting-edge engineering to create furniture suited to inside and out.
-
Reader event: The art of the country house garden at DaylesfordWhat are the ingredients of the perfect country garden in the 21st century? At this Country Life event, five leading experts will share their wisdom on achieving pleasing good looks, creating comfortable spaces for relaxation, manageable maintenance and how to make a garden your own.
-
Art underfoot: How Artorius Faber brought to life the stone floor of Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower ShowGeorge Saumarez Smith’s design for the floor of Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been brought to life by Artorius Faber.
-
The best of British: How home-grown stone will be one of the stars on the Country Life stand at the Chelsea Flower ShowCountry Life's stand at RHS Chelsea will celebrate the beauty of Artorius Faber’s home-grown stone.
