Gardeners urged to save the ‘unsung hero of our ecosystems’

Lizzie Thomson
·2 min read
male hoverfly feeding on white and yellow flowers in a uk summer garden
The humble hoverfly needs our help - here’s how Graham Martin

The Royal Horticultural Society and the Wildlife Trusts are calling on UK gardeners to get behind a campaign to help the humble hoverfly.

Hailed as the ‘unsung hero of our ecosystems’, hoverflies are the second biggest pollinator after bees, visiting 52% of crops globally.

As well as pollinating, these incredibly handy garden companions protect plants by eating sap-sucking aphids, are food for birds, and even help break down organic matter in gardens.

However, the past few decades have seen a dramatic 44% decline in their numbers from 1980 to 2020. So much so that in 2022 they were officially added to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of threatened species.

Experts also point out that these insects are ‘masters of disguise’ as they’re often mistaken for bees and wasps. A good way to tell the difference is to check for one pair of wings, (whereas bees and wasps have two) and to spot their hover and zigzag patterns around plants.

Due to their ability to pollinate our plants, keep aphids in balance, and break down rotting matter, gardeners are now being encouraged to welcome hoverflies into their green spaces so the ‘hidden heroes’ can thrive.

a long hoverfly, sphaerophoria scripta, pollinating a tansy wildflower in a meadow.
sandra standbridge

But what can we do to help the declining fly species?

“Gardeners can help attract them by planting open, easily accessible flowers," explains Helen Bostock, Senior Wildlife Specialist at the Royal Horticultural Society.

"In spring, they’ll be drawn to aubretia. In summer, they’ll love blackberry flowers, oxeye daisy, marigolds, fennel, cow parsley and poppies. Come autumn, they can be seen on heather, aster and even common ivy."

How to help hoverflies

Hoverfly lagoons and larvae nurseries are just a few things that can attract more hoverflies to gardens. Experts from the two charities have put together some advice on how to attract and help hoverflies in large or small spaces.

  • Pollinator plant boxes: Ideal for small-space gardens or balconies, these can be jam-packed with flowering plants to suit the season, representing a giant buffet for visiting hoverflies.

  • Hoverfly lagoons: These are pools of shallow water where fallen leaves create a perfect breeding ground for many of the hoverfly species which have aquatic larvae.

  • Larvae nurseries: Log piles and even shrubs can make perfect homes for hoverfly larvae.


Bee Garden Kit

Country Living Marketplace
Country Living Marketplace

£11.50 at Country Living Marketplace


Lamb's Ladies Gardening Shoe - Birch

Country Living Marketplace
Country Living Marketplace

£79.00 at Country Living Marketplace


Gardeners Hand Salve

Country Living Marketplace
Country Living Marketplace

£8.95 at Country Living Marketplace


Ceramic Poppy Seed Head

Country Living Marketplace
Country Living Marketplace

£50.00 at Country Living Marketplace


Wooden Seed Box

Country Living Marketplace
Country Living Marketplace

£10.00 at Country Living Marketplace


Large Green Ceramic Garden Candle

Country Living Marketplace
Country Living Marketplace

£39.00 at Country Living Marketplace

You Might Also Like

Latest Stories

  • Watch terrifying moment as man narrowly escapes polar bear as it charges at him in Norway

    Video footage from the Arctic town of Pyramiden on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard shows the polar bear charging at a man who fired at him.

  • Fisherman catches invasive sea creature with hairy claws from Oregon river

    It’s the first time one has been confirmed in the Pacific Northwest, wildlife officials said.

  • Trump administration allows temporary sales of summertime higher-ethanol fuel

    NEW YORK (Reuters) -The Trump administration on Monday issued an emergency waiver to allow the sale of a higher-ethanol gasoline blend to be sold this summer nationwide, saying it will add to fuel supply during the peak U.S. driving season and bring down costs. The move likely will benefit biofuel producers and corn farmers, as it is expected to expand the market for their products. "This move to allow the summer sale of E15 will provide immediate relief to consumers, provide more choices at the pump, and drive demand for corn grown, processed, and used right here in America," U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said.

  • How I’d Invest $5,000 in Canadian Energy Stocks to Reach Toward Millionaire Status

    These energy stocks can provide investors in Canada with some of the top growth opportunities and dividends to boot! The post How I’d Invest $5,000 in Canadian Energy Stocks to Reach Toward Millionaire Status appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

  • Geologists Found the Fossil of a Stunning 30-Foot Sea Dragon in Mississippi, of All Places

    The mosasaur was one heck of an aquatic apex predator.

  • These 2 Energy Stocks Are a No-Brainer in Today’s Market

    These two energy stocks have reliable operations and pay significant dividends, making them two of the best stocks that you can buy today. The post These 2 Energy Stocks Are a No-Brainer in Today’s Market appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

  • Trump’s Latest Actions Can Make America’s Grid Reliable

    Recent executive actions announced by President Trump will go a long way in restoring the reliability of America’s electric grid, which has been eroding due to green energy policies and […]

  • Heart-Stopping Moment Man Drops Gun, Jumps on Snowmobile to Flee Charging Polar Bear

    A man chose to drop his gun and try to outrun a charging polar bear on a snowmobile in the Arctic town of Pyramiden on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard in late April.Rebecca Baack captured this dramatic video while staying at a hotel during a ski expedition.“I was woken up around midnight with someone saying there was a bear. A staff member was trying to scare it away when the bear charged him,” Baack said.In the video, a man can be seen firing a gun toward a polar bear. Undeterred, the large animal charges toward him. The man then runs away and hops onto a snowmobile. The bear gives chase for a moment, but eventually gives up and sits down.Voices behind the camera can be heard remarking on the man’s bravery.According to Visit Svalbard, a tourism agency, polar bears are known to populate the region, and while they spend most of their lives at sea, visitors to Svalbard should be prepared to encounter the animal anywhere.The agency warned polar bears attack “quickly, without warning,” and advised tourists to be accompanied by a local guide with a firearm when leaving settlements. Credit: Rebecca Baack via Storyful

  • Vietnam’s environment still bears the scars of war –- and signals a dark future for Gaza, Ukraine

    Fifty years later, Vietnam's degraded ecosystems and dioxin-contaminated soils and waters still reflect the long-term ecological consequences of the war.

  • Andean Bear Plays With 'Big Donut' at Potawatomi Zoo

    An Andean bear was seen having some fun playing with a “big donut” at the Potawatomi Zoo in April.The Potawatomi Zoo shared this footage of Sean rolling around in the grass with his donut toy on April 25.“It’s so much fun to see our animals engaging with enrichment,” the zoo wrote in its post.According to the Potawatomi Zoo’s official website, Sean was born at the Smithsonian National Zoo alongside his brother Ian in 2022. The two brothers were later moved to the Potawatomi Zoo in 2024. Credit: Potawatomi Zoo via Storyful

  • Severe storms and summer warmth reach Ontario

    Unseasonable warmth and strong wind gusts will help spark storms along a cold front across southern Ontario Tuesday afternoon before a return to reality on Wednesday

  • Woman critically injured after tree branch strikes her and child on Toronto street

    A woman in her 30s has been taken to hospital with critical injuries after a large tree branch fell on a Toronto street on Tuesday, striking her and a child, police say.The branch fell in the area of St. Clair Avenue W. and Avenue Road, police said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Officers were called to the scene at about 3:20 p.m.The child, a 10-year-old girl, was not hurt, police said.Police added they could not say if weather was a factor and they do not know why the branch fell.Roads that

  • Florida Man Jumps Into Alligator-Inhabited Lake to Rescue Injured Bald Eagle

    A Florida man did not hesitate to jump into an alligator-inhabited lake to rescue an injured bald eagle, footage from Saturday, April 19, shows.This footage captured by Diane Hay shows her husband, Doug Hay, rescuing the bald eagle from an alligator-filled lake in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.Doug told local news that he and Diane were sitting in their living room when they heard a crash. Doug saw one eagle in the water and another one circling above the lake, suspecting that the two were fighting moments prior.Doug, nearly 70 years old, was able to successfully retrieve the eagle from the water and bring it to land. The eagle was then transferred to the Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida in Venice, who said that the eagle was injured but stable, local news reported.Doug said in a Facebook comment that the lake is home to an alligator named Snoop.According to a local report, the eagle had an “open hole” near its thoracic cavity and would need weeks to recover. Credit: Diane Hay via Storyful

  • I Followed This 10-Day Spring Cleaning Plan, and I’m Never Going Back

    It took less than two weeks!

  • Energy, environmental groups strike hopeful tone after Liberal federal election win

    CALGARY — Energy industry groups and environmental advocates were striking a hopeful note a day after voters returned the Liberals to power in Ottawa with a minority mandate.

  • Around 150 jobs at risk as ABF warns bioethanol plant could close

    The Vivergo fuels site in Saltend, near Hull, swung to a loss in recent months after it cut production levels in light of low bioethanol prices.

  • New provincial rules permit hunters to kill problem elk

    Farmers across Alberta have a new option to deal with problem antlerless elk herds that are eating livestock feed or damaging private property.Problem elk hunting launched this spring in Alberta, which permits eligible hunters to target elk on private poverty or adjacent Crown land, even after the February end to the recreational elk hunting season.It's a welcome change for cattle rancher Cole Barten, who says elk are ripping up hay bales and leaving behind a mess."We haven't had a problem with

  • Companies use Trump's executive order as a loophole to fast-track commercial seafloor mining

    Donald Trump's executive order circumvents the International Seabed Authority's control of international waters. Mining companies are seizing the moment, while activists believe they'll pollute the ocean.

  • This made-in-Canada cleaning brand is eco-friendly, affordable and available on Amazon

    Shop Canadian-made bathroom and kitchen cleaners, laundry detergent and more.

  • 23ABC Morning Weather Update April 28, 2025

    23ABC Morning Weather Update April 28, 2025