Suburb-dwellers need not keep hives to help maintain the bee population, says Doug Purdie – it can be as simple as keeping some pointers in mind when buying your next plant.

The East Fremantle-born and bred beekeeper now runs The Urban Beehive project, peppering Sydney with hives in an effort to protect Australian bee populations from the alarming declines seen worldwide. A similar program named Smokin' Honey also runs in Perth.

"They pollinate virtually all of the nutritious food we eat," Purdie said.

"Even things like lettuce have to be pollinated. And anyone who wants to grow any vegetable in their backyard, fruit, zucchini, pumpkin, or keep a native tree, also needs pollinating. Without pollination the system falls apart."