We're Buzzing about Bees!

Today is World Bee Day and we’ve been thinking about ways we can help these little pollinators in our very own back gardens!

The UK has approximately 270 different species of bee, with around 250 of those being solitary bees.

But what is a solitary bee? Most of us know that other species such as honeybees and bumblebees live in colonies, but solitary bees opt for a more peaceful lifestyle, often excavating their own individual nests in the ground.

But unfortunately, British bees face many threats including habitat loss, climate change and the use of harmful pesticides. According to Friends of the Earth “Since 1900, the UK has lost 13 species of bee, and a further 35 are considered under threat of extinction”.

They need three things to survive and thrive: food, shelter and water.

So here are some simple ways you can bee-kind (see what we did there!) and improve even the smallest of outside spaces for our bees.

Make your garden bee-autiful
Choose bee-friendly plants for your flower beds, pots and window boxes. Try to include a variety of plants that flower at different times of the year to maintain year-round interest for pollinators.

For more information you can visit this site.

Let your grass grow!
Leaving a patch of unmanaged grass and allowing wildflowers to grow (e.g Clover and daisies), will boost the pollen and nectar availability in your garden for hungry bees.

Build a bee-hotel
This need not be anything sophisticated, just collecting some nesting material (e.g Dried twigs, grass, bamboo and plant stems) and tying it together with twine can provide valuable shelter to many species of solitary bee, in particular cavity nesting bees such as the mason bee (osmia spp.) Hanging your hotel in a sunny spot, at least 1m from the ground with no vegetation blocking the entrance, will be your best shot at catching a bee’s eye!

For more ideas you can visit Friends of the Earth or the Wildlife Trust.

Provide a water source
Water is vital for bees to make food for their young and to keep their hives at the right temperature. They collect water during the summer months, so put some stones into a shallow tray and leave it out in the rain to collect water to provide a safe stop for busy bees.

Stay away from pesticides
Insecticides can have harmful effects on bees and other pollinators when they encounter them whilst foraging. So, look for natural alternatives to keep pests under control, instead of opting for harsh chemicals in your garden.

Hopefully this has provided an insight into making your garden more bee friendly! Remember to share with us your nature finds by using #WNICGarden on all social platforms!