With National Bee Day on 20th May we have selected our Wildlife Border as our border of the month. Featuring bee-loving plants including buddleja, rosemary, lavender geraniums and many more nectar producing plants including flowering perennials and hardy flowering shrubs. Did you know?
There are more than 270 species of bee recorded in Britain
A healthy environment needs bees
Different bees have different personalities
Since 1900 the UK has lost 13 species of bee
Habitat loss, disease, pesticides and pollution are some of the reasons why our bee populations are declining
Bee-friendly plants play a huge part in helping to keep bee numbers up
For more bee facts head to friendsoftheearth.co.uk Antony’s top tips for looking after the bees in your garden
Choose pest control carefully If you need to use a pest control spray or solution always check whether it is free of neonicotinoids, if it is, the product packaging will usually mention it on the front of the bottle. Make a home for bees Solitary bees like to nest in the soil or in hollow plant stems. If you have some old canes, some bits of wood and pine cones, make a small insect house in a sheltered corner of the garden. The bees will move into the cane-hollows in no time and it's fascinating to sit and watch them busily buzzing in out of their nests. Weeds Bees love weeds, especially lawn weeds and that includes the dreaded dandelion! If you are not interested in creating the most perfect lawn you could consider leaving a few dandelions, daisies and buttercups for the bees. Alternatively you could create a wild lawn using wild flowers.
For more great ideas head to the RHS’ website
Plant beds and borders with bees in mind
Our Wildlife Border includes a range of plants that are not only beneficial to pollinators, but also support birds and bats. Some of the plant varieties includeL Anemone, Aster, Buddleja, Campanula, Ceanothus, Coreopsis, Erysemum, Escallonia, Geranium, Hebe, Helenium, Hellebores, Lavender, Ligustrum, Lonicera, Nepeta, Penstemon, Pyracantha, Rosemary, Salvia, Scabiousa, Viburnum, Weigela
Click here to find out more about our Wildlife Border.