BE BEE FRIENDLY

It is estimated that one third of what we eat is pollinated by bees, they help pollinate our flowers,trees, fruit and vegetables. Unfortunately, due to a loss of trees and hedgerows, wild flowers, suitable nesting sites and the increasing use of pesticides our bees are struggling. Approximately 25% of native British Bees now listed as endangered species, so it is important for us to help, we are as dependent on bees as they are on us.

Encouraging bees into your garden is very rewarding, there is nothing like having a bee encounter. They are fascinating to watch and study, and you can listen to their gentle humming while benefiting from the increased pollination of your flowers, fruits and vegetables.

There are over 250 bees native to Britain and they vary in colour, shape and size considerably. We are all aware of the famous Bumble Bee, and the Honey Bee hives kept by bee-keepers, but the vast majority of our native bees are in fact Solitary Bees. After mating with a male, a single female will carry out her own duties for her offspring, making the nests, collecting the food (pollen and nectar) and laying the eggs. In comparison our Social Bees (Bumble and Honey Bee) live as a colony, with a queen bee laying the eggs, the female workers collecting and storing the pollen and nectar; and the male drones living in the hive. A Bumble Bee colony can contain around 300 bees, however a Honey Bee hive can easily contain 40,000 bees.


HOW TO CREATE A BEE FRIENDLY GARDEN

Providing bees with a food source:
- Plant a diversity of native wild flowers seeds in your garden, pots or window boxes,
- Leave areas in your garden undisturbed, allowing natural flower growth.
- Plant bee friendly flowering trees and shrubs
- Provide drinking water, using a shallow dish or lid containing pebbles to allow the bees to climb out

Providing shelter:
- Attach a Solitary Bee Village to a tree wall or fence, in a sheltered south facing area of your garden.
- Place a Bumble Bee Box under a hedge, in a flower bed, or anywhere near to a food source.
- Set aside a patch of ground and let the grass and flowers grow long and thick, this will also provide shelter in sudden changes to the weather.
- Leave areas of your compost undisturbed, a favourite home for Bumble Bees.
- Create a log or brash pile in a quite corner of your garden.

Good practice:
- Reduce or better still stop the use of pesticides and herbicides in your garden, as they may be harmful to the bees.
- Do not put unwashed honey jars outside (especially overseas honey) that bees can potential feed on. They may contain bacteria and spores that are harmful to our native bees.
- If you see a Honey Bee swarm do not harm it, instead contact your local authority or bee keepers association who will arrange for a local bee keeper to collect and re-home the swarm.

If you are interested in becoming a Bee Keeper contact your local Bee Keeper Association, they have many of experienced and knowledgeable members and will be more than happy to offer you advice and assistance.