In response to the declines in numbers of bees within the UK the RSPB has made a press release which suggests a mix of two tablespoons of white granulated sugar and a tablespoon of water, placed in a small container such as an egg cup, among the bees' favourite flowers, should help give them a much needed energy boost!
It is unclear why bees are struggling, but bad weather may have played a role.
Bees fly less when it is wet and cold, meaning they have to work doubly hard to collect pollen and nectar when it clears us.
Wet weather also washes pollen off plants, leaving stores low and forcing bees to fly further afield than usual.
We warn against making the mixture any stronger, to stop the bees getting excess amounts of sugar.
One national newspaper even went so far as to suggest giving bees a boost with Red Bull or Lucozade! We'd definitely not recommend that (and we've asked the paper to tell its readers the same)
Energy drinks such as these contain highly concentrated levels of sugars as well as many other additives which the bees would obviously never encounter in nature.
The white sugar mixture mentioned above is at levels which could be found naturally, and so by offering it in this way only we hope to help them.
Only small containers should also be used to stop birds diving in for a sugary bath, which could affect a bird's feathers.
Honey should also not be used as an alternative for sugar as most of it is imported and not suitable to native bee species. This could also contain viruses that may affect an entire colony, not just individual bees.
Val Osborne, head of RSPB wildlife enquiries here at The Lodge, said many people were noticing bees on the ground and wrongly assuming they were dead.
"We've been getting even more calls about bees than ever this year as most people have read that they are in trouble," she said.
"Much like us, a sugary drink could boost their energy levels and a simple sugar and water combination will be a welcome treat."
Bees are a keystone species in sustaining food chains and ensuring biodiversity on our planet. Albert Einstein is even alleged to have said that “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man,"
I enjoy playing Duck Life's running mode since there are so many obstacles and interesting colors to explore.