University expert in pollinator conservation to appear in new BBC series

Bees, Butterflies & Blooms with Sarah Raven – highlighting the importance of pollinators to crops and wild flowers.

Dr Ollerton, Reader in Biodiversity in the School of Science and Technology, will be joining one of the BBC’s top gardening experts Sarah Raven, who is on a mission to help save bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other insects who contribute greatly to some crops and wild flowers.

Jeff acted as a scientific consultant on the series and took part in the filming during Spring and Summer 2010. This follows on from his previous work with the BBC in a Science in the Garden special with Gardeners’ World regular Carol Klein – who will be picking up an Honorary award from The University of Northampton at the Winter Graduation Ceremonies on Sunday 12 February 2012 at Royal & Derngate, Northampton.

Dr Ollerton commented:

“The aim of the series is to get gardeners of all types to think about how changes in their gardening practices, such as planting nectar- and pollen-rich flowers, and reducing their use of pesticides, can help to conserve our declining pollinator populations.  The pollination of crop plants by these insects in the UK was recently valued at £430 million per year and they make a vital contribution to food security in this country. Losing them is not an option!”

As well as acting as a regular media consultant, Dr Ollerton is currently coordinating several research projects into the ecology and conservation of pollinating insects, with funding secured from The Finnis Scott Foundation, the Shah Abdul Latif University in Pakistan, and The University of Northampton.

Bees, Butterflies and Blooms will be broadcast from 8pm on BBC2 on Wednesday 8 February 2012. For more information, please visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0152fty