Page 3 - Helping Pollinators through Bee-friendly gardening

Helping all pollinators

It is important to provide flowers for as much of
the year as you can. Spring Bulbs can provide
early flowers, followed by spring blossoming trees
Our bees, butterflies, and shrubs. Perennial plants such as Asters and
hoverflies and moths Rudbeckia will provide food autumn flowers.
need our help Pollinators come in all shapes and sizes and so
different shaped flowers are important, but avoid
plants with double or multi-petalled flowers where
What to plant for pollinators the pollen is hard to reach. Choose open daisy-
Pollinating insects are declining throughout type flowers and tubular flowers like Foxgloves.
the UK, and this will have significant impacts on Choosing the right plants which are rich in
the food we eat. Apples, Strawberries, nectar and pollen will make a big difference. The time of day is also important. There are over
Pears, Peas, Tomatoes and Raspberries all 2500 different kinds of moth in the UK so night
depend on insect pollinators, and without them Bedding and perennial border plants scented flowers such as Jasmine and Honeysuckle
yields and quality of many of these food types In general it is better to plant single rather than are really helpful additions to your garden.
will decrease. double flowered plants. Perennial plants are
usually more useful to pollinators than annual Wildflowers
But we can all do something in our gardens bedding plants and can flower over longer periods Native wildflowers can be more useful to some
to help pollinators, and at the same time enjoy of time. pollinators than garden plants. So try and put
seeing butterflies, bumblebees and various some wildflowers into your borders or baskets
other pollinators. Some useful perennial plants include: and if any wildflowers spring up naturally in your
Sedum, Michaelmas Daisy, Lungwort, Catmint, garden, leave them to grow and flower if you think
We have teamed up with Buglife to help stop Hellebore, Scabious, Californian Lilac, Aubretia they’ll be good for pollinators. Remember, the
the decline in our pollinators. and Red valerian. wildflowers which occur naturally in your garden
will be well suited to the conditions.
Herbs
What do pollinators need? Pollinators love flowering herbs. So plant Mint, Your lawn
Wild Marjoram, Lavender, Sage and Thyme to You can easily make your lawn more pollinator
Food – pollinators feed on nectar (sugar) provide food for pollinators and some tasty culinary friendly by leaving an area permanently uncut or
and pollen (protein) from a wide range of wild herbs for you. even by mowing some or all of it a bit less often.
and garden flowers. Buttercups, Daisy and Clovers will all flower if
Shrubs and trees given a chance.
Shelter and Nesting – just like birds, insects The blossoms of fruit trees and shrubs provide
need places to nest and raise their young, valuable food for pollinators. Plant Apples, Plums, Areas for nesting and shelter
and places to live over the winter. Blackberry and Raspberries to provide food for Simply leaving some untidy areas at the back
you and for pollinators. Sallows or pussy willows of your garden will provide cover for nesting,
are beautiful small trees to have in a garden and sheltering and especially over-wintering insects.
provide a vital food source for pollinators emerging Old walls or rockeries or even piles of stones and
early in the spring. rotting wood can provide nesting sites or shelter
for pollinators, as can bare areas, especially
If you don’t have much growing space the right in sandy soils. Or why not build yourself a bee
plants in hanging baskets and planters is a home - see thelandtrust.org.uk/wp-content/
great option. uploads/2016/01/How-to-Bumblebee-Home.pdf
for instructions.
Michaelmas Daisy Dandelion Pussy Willow
Pesticides
Try and avoid using pesticides altogether and let
nature deal with its own pests. The more insects
you attract the more likely you are to have natural
predators which will keep things in balance.

Johnson Chou, Unsplash