Food for flower‐visiting insects: Appreciating common native wild flowering plants

Native wild flowering plants provide important season-round nectar and pollen resources for flower-visiting insects, but many are unappreciated or even disliked by members of the public; example ivy (Hedera spp.), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.) bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.). This antipathy has received little research attention despite a pressing need societal shift towards greater awareness such recognition their ecological value. Engendering appreciation common wild-growing could greatly improve floral resource availability enhance biodiversity simultaneously benefit human physical mental well-being. However, there multiple challenges to changing public attitudes. Knowledge among is limited this phenomenon symptomatic diminishing connection nature. While species may be overlooked due lack knowledge, it evident that some ‘weeds’ actively unpopular. Reframing perceptions value achieved in several ways including through formal education, messaging media, businesses environmental organisations, encouraging participation urban land management. Read free Plain Language Summary article on Journal blog.