www.marianhill.co.uk
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Buzz & Scuttle started as a personal project by Illustrator Marian Hill to help raise awareness of our declining insect population. In 2019, she began illustrating and learning about the invertebrate species which she spotted in her own tiny city garden and surrounding neighbourhood. So far, she has created over 300 insect illustrations, including beetles, bugs, wasps, flies, butterflies, spiders, moths, bees, woodlouse, and centipedes, and the project is only just getting started…  Her illustrations are collated into Buzz & Scuttle public information posters, which are being displayed in a growing number of parks, schools and nature reserves around the length and breadth of the UK from Northern Ireland to Cornwall to central London.  Marian has created a habitat in her own garden, specifically to attract all kinds of insects and, she is eager to show others how to do the same. She is convinced that once people have developed an understanding of our native insect species, they too will be keen to help create an environment that encourages wildlife to thrive.​

They may be small and easy to overlook, but insects are amazing creatures which we cannot live without. Indeed, most people are unaware of the extraordinary insects living around us and the crucial jobs they carry out.
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A vital part of our ecosystem, insects provide a valuable food source for birds and other creatures, and they pollinate many of our crops. Without insect assistance the whole human food chain would fall apart.

Invertebrates (a large group of creatures without a backbone which includes spiders, centipedes, millipedes, woodlice, slugs, snails and worms) also perform a variety of essential jobs that keep our environment healthy, including composting, fertilising, natural waste disposal, and maintaining soil health and good drainage.

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​Buzz & Scuttle aims to encourage whole communities to look at the insects that live alongside us, learn to respect these extraordinary and vital creatures and adopt gardening techniques that help wildlife to flourish even in the smallest outside spaces.

Buzz & Scuttle posters and free teaching materials feature collaged insect illustrations by Marian Hill and have been developed and designed with input from expert entomologists, ecologists, wildlife gardeners and teachers.

We hope these resources will encourage insect appreciation and inspire positive action.

Globally, nationally, and locally, wildlife is disappearing at an alarming rate. Recent studies have found that the UK insect flying insect population has decreased 60% in the last 20 years.
In the last 70 years, the UK has lost extensive areas of nature-friendly habitats such as native woodland, wildflower meadows, and hedgerows. There has also been a massive increase in intensive farming practices that use chemicals harmful to wildlife. In addition, climate change is causing a dramatic shift in our weather patterns, changing the natural cycle of the seasons and throwing wildlife into confusion. 
All these factors have created an environment where many insect species are struggling to survive. This steep drop in insect numbers and species diversity is seriously worrying. It indicates a breakdown in the natural ecosystems that we depend on for food production, and which play a vital role in maintaining a healthy environment.

Not surprisingly, many people feel upset and helpless when faced with such terrible statistics. But the good news is that insect numbers can quickly recover when wildlife-friendly habitats are created. Our gardens, parks, and urban open spaces have the potential to become one massive nature reserve, buzzing and scuttling with wildlife. 
It is easy to create an open space which is a great habitat for insects, as well as a beautiful space for us to enjoy. It is astonishing how many species of insect can thrive in a small urban garden with a little human help.