{"id":498932,"date":"2026-03-27T21:11:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T21:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/498932\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T21:11:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T21:11:10","slug":"im-a-wildlife-expert-heres-how-we-can-save-the-bees-and-ourselves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/498932\/","title":{"rendered":"I’m a wildlife expert – here’s how we can save the bees (and ourselves)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Polar bears, great white sharks, lions, tigers\u2026 and bees? Bafta and Emmy-winning National Geographic explorer Bertie Gregory had some initial reservations about the wow-factor of the subject of his newest documentary Secrets of the Bees<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we might struggle to bring out that same level of character or charisma \u2013 but I was wrong,\u201d he says. \u201cBees are full of character \u2013 you just need to get on their level and see the world through their eyes. I\u2019m proud to say we\u2019ve done just that with this series.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jam-packed with groundbreaking filming technology and eyebrow-raising facts about these surprisingly intelligent insects, Secrets of the Bees is the latest instalment of National Geographic\u2019s<\/a> Emmy award-winning \u201csecret lives\u201d series, which has previously focused on elephants, octopus and penguins.<\/p>\n

New FeatureIn ShortQuick Stories. Same trusted journalism.<\/p>\n

With a focus on a honeybee hive in the UK in their active seasons of spring and summer, it\u2019s an immersive and visually mesmerising watch that travels to verdant mountain forests in Japan, the Amazon jungle and wildflower-filled meadows. In short, it\u2019s a comfort watch that doesn\u2019t scrimp on education or insights.<\/p>\n

And with more than 20,000 species of bee across the globe, many of whom face significant challenges, there\u2019s never been a better time to focus on these tiny insects<\/a> who pack a mighty punch when it comes to the future of humanity.<\/p>\n

\u201cBees are incredible in their own right, but they\u2019re also critical for our survival,\u201d says Gregory, who also hosts and narrates the two-part series. \u201cThey\u2019re responsible for about a third of the food we eat, so if bees are in trouble, we\u2019re in trouble. In some parts of China, farmers have to manually pollinate crops, which is hugely labour-intensive, due to the widespread loss of bees from pesticide misuse and habitat destruction. This means that food prices soar. If bees disappear, we face a big, big problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not bad work for a creature with a brain the size of a pinhead. But despite their diminutive size, it quickly becomes clear that humans have dramatically underestimated bees. In one remarkable scene, an experiment at Queen Mary University of London<\/a> reveals that bumblebees enjoy play, the first time that this activity has been demonstrated in insects. \u201cTime and time again they show incredible intelligence,\u201d enthuses Gregory.<\/p>\n

\"BumbleA bumble bee passes nectar from her fore legs to hind legs (Photo: National Geographic)<\/p>\n

As well as having names worthy of a Tolkien novel \u2013 buff-tailed, fire, vulture, broomstick \u2013 hive bees also inhabit very defined roles. \u201cSome are responsible for tending the brood, some feed the queen, some are undertakers that remove dead bees from the hive to stop the spread of disease, some are \u201cbouncers\u201d that stand guard to protect the entrance to the hive\u2026 it\u2019s this perfectly oiled machine,\u201d says Gregory.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of my other favourite things about honeybees is that they have democracies in their hives,\u201d he continues, before outlining how bees find a new home, sending out scouts to scope out potential properties, before reaching a consensus. \u201cI think politicians could learn a thing or two from honeybees<\/a>,\u201d he smiles.<\/p>\n

High praise from a man who was named Bafta\u2019s youngest cinematography winner in 2020 for his work alongside Sir David Attenborough on the BBC\u2019s Seven Worlds, One Planet<\/a> series. But he\u2019s modest when asked how he handles being up close and personal with some of our planet\u2019s most formidable predators.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s a common misconception that my job is really dangerous,\u201d he counters. \u201cI would argue that walking down a street in the middle of a city is far more dangerous than any of the sharks or leopard seals or bees I\u2019ve encountered.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"DrewGregory looking at a honey comb frame (Photo: National Geographic\/Nadege Laici)<\/p>\n

He continues: \u201cI think we\u2019re scared of what we don\u2019t know. And I\u2019m fortunate to know quite a bit about animals and to work with lots of experts that know even more than me. The idea that nature is a really dangerous place and that wild animals are just out to get you is just rubbish. If you give animals space and treat them with respect, they don\u2019t want to mess with you. They just want to get on with their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

In terms of the public\u2019s attitude towards wildlife and conservation issues, Gregory<\/a> is heartened by the younger generations\u2019 approach to caretaking our planet.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was growing up and sneaking off from lessons and birthday parties to take pictures of badgers and foxes, it was definitely seen as a strange thing to do,\u201d he recalls. \u201cBut now there\u2019s been this huge shift and being interested in the environment<\/a> and wildlife and wanting to help is kind of cool among young people. I\u2019m hopeful about the future because of young people.<\/p>\n

Gregory acknowledges how unique and privileged his insight into the natural world is. \u201cAs well as getting to hang out with cool animals, I get to hang out with cool people, which I feel very lucky for. And what gives me hope is that I\u2019ve met so many people around the world that are changing our relationship with the natural world \u2013 and they\u2019re finding that nature is really good at bouncing back. If you give nature the chance, it\u2019ll bounce back on an unbelievable scale.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AA male honeybee emerges from his cell (Photo: National Geographic)<\/p>\n

Thankfully, the solution to the challenges facing UK bees is one that each of us can play a positive role in. \u201cIt\u2019s very simple: you just need to plant wildflowers,\u201d says Gregory. \u201cThat\u2019s why I love this series, because our call to action is so straightforward. Who doesn\u2019t love wildflowers? It\u2019s a win-win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Are bee-friendly labelled plants always as helpful as they suggest? \u201cNot necessarily,\u201d says Gregory. \u201cWhat\u2019s really important for bees is planting wild, native species. And they don\u2019t like complex flowers \u2013 bees appreciate simple flowers that are easy to get in and land on. If you look at a tulip, for example, there\u2019s not really a landing pad for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gregory has more advice for wildlife-lovers keen to support the UK\u2019s bee population. \u201cIf you\u2019re going to plant a wildflower meadow, make sure that you\u2019ve got a range of time periods in which those plants flower, but especially early in the spring and into autumn, so bees can access lots of food for as long a period as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking after nature isn\u2019t just a nice thing to do that makes us feel fuzzy inside or that\u2019s morally right,\u201d he states. \u201cWe need nature \u2013 we\u2019re part of it, not separate from it. And there are so many things that we take for granted. It\u2019s time we do our bit \u2013 and saving the bees is a great place to start.\u201d<\/p>\n

All episodes of Secrets of the Bees<\/a> will be available to stream on Disney+ from 1 April. The series will also air on National Geographic WILD<\/a> on Wednesday at 7pm<\/p>\n

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