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Widespread decline in pollinators across Britain, study finds
Researchers said wildlife-friendly farming and gardening can have a lasting positive impact on wild pollinators.
Scientists say conservation actions can have a positive impact 

A third of wild bee and hoverfly species have seen declines in areas of Britain where they were previously found, a new study has revealed.

Researchers said the findings act as a “warning” but there is an urgent need for more robust data on the patterns and causes of these declines. Habitat loss is thought to be a key driver.

The study, published in Nature Communications, measured the presence of 353 wild bee and hoverfly species across the country from 1980 to 2013. Findings suggest that, on average, the geographic range of these insects fell by a quarter, which equates to a net loss of 11 species per 1km square.

Overall losses were most notable for pollinator species in northern Britain, which could be down to climate change, with species that prefer cooler temperatures shrinking their range in response to less suitable landscapes.

A tenth of species were found to have increased and there was a rise in key bee species responsible for pollinating flowering crops, such as oil seed rape. Scientists say this could be a response to the large increases in mass-flowering crops grown during the study period, as well as government-funded schemes to encourage farmers to plant wildflowers.

Researchers said the findings support previous work that suggests conservation actions, including wildlife-friendly farming and gardening, can have a lasting positive impact on wild pollinators. However, these need to be refined to benefit a larger number of species.

Whilst this increase in some species is positive, lead author Dr Gary Powney said it would be “risky” to rely on this relatively small group to support long-term food security.

He added: “If anything happens to them in future, there will be fewer other species to ‘step up’ and fulfil the essential role of crop pollination”.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."