Buglife

Saving the small things that run the planet.

Who are they?

As the only organisation in Europe devoted to the conservation of all invertebrates, Buglife actively works to save species – from bees and beetles to worms and jellyfish. 

Unfortunately, it’s estimated that around 150,000 species worldwide could become extinct by 2050, which is why Buglife exists. Buglife doesn’t just intend to halt the extinction of invertebrate species, but they’re also working towards achieving sustainable populations of invertebrates. 

Illustration including two photographs within a Polaroid banner, one photo is of two people inspecting meadow plants and the other is of a cherry blossom tree

What do they do?

Buglife’s aim is to halt the decline of invertebrate species and is actioned through raising awareness, assisting in the development of legislation for conservation, and sharing knowledge about how to conserve invertebrates. 

Illustration including two Polaroid style photographs, one photo is of a bumble bee on a purple flower within a meadow landscape and the other is of a small copper butterfly sitting on a daisy

Here’s just a snapshot of the many incredible conservation projects undertaken by Buglife:

  • Back from the Brink – a partnership project that pooled expertise to inspire people across the country to care for threatened animals, plants, and fungi.
  • B-Lines – an initiative that has delivered several pollinator projects that work with partners to connect habitat for bees, butterflies, and hoverflies throughout the UK via a network of ‘insect pathways’.
  • Brownfields – protecting the rare invertebrate species who live on patches of land that have been altered by human activity and often supports an Open Mosaic of Habitat (e.g. urban areas, quarries, brick-pits, old railway lines, and disused airfields).
  • Freshwater Projects – raising awareness of issues affecting the health of freshwater invertebrates, as well as carrying out research and conservation activities. 
  • Living Roof Projects – championing the use of green roofs as habitats for wildlife.

How we’ve helped Buglife

We've helped Buglife with a total of £15,000 in donations, so far, as part of our 'Tails' of UK Wildlife campaign and to support their Guardians of Our Rivers project: 

‘Tails’ of UK Wildlife

Our wildlife is worth fighting for, including invertebrates who provide us with a number of free services such as pollination. Protecting nature surrounding the places we call home requires each of us to take steps towards a wildlife-friendly future. However, even the tiniest action can have a big impact on nature, which is why we’re delighted to support Buglife as part of our ‘Tails’ of UK Wildlife campaign! 

Through our £10,000 donation to Buglife, we hope to help them save species of invertebrates from the brink of extinction. 

‘Guardians of Our Rivers’

In 2022, we donated £5,000 towards Buglife’s ‘Guardians of Our Rivers’ project in Scotland. The project works to connect communities with their local rivers and the invertebrates that call these places home.

As part of this project, Buglife provides training and support on how to:

  • Monitor and survey rivers for invertebrates.
  • Spot early warning signs of habitats in crisis, e.g., from pollution or climate change. 
  • Record their findings. 
  • Share stories and lessons learnt between communities.

£15,000 donation illustration

How you can help Buglife

If you want to get involved with saving invertebrates with Buglife, check out their excellent range of resources, including bug identification workshops, bug directory, and local surveys. Other ways to support Buglife: