Page 14 - Wildlife News August 2017

PUKeNoEpWSle & wildlife

Bee a friendly gardener

Habitat loss and pesticides are hitting wild
bees hard. But whether you’ve got a window
box, a patio or a whole garden, a few simple
actions can make a difference

Plant nectar and
pollen-rich flowers

Monty Don is a Provide a water
gardening author source
and speaker, and
presenter of BBC
Gardeners’ World
@TheMontyDon

I t has been estimated that 80 per cent pollen and the smaller flowers of open and simple, such as members of the
of the western diet depends on unhybridised species are likely to be a daisy family, or any that are set like a
pollination by bees. So their steady much richer source than huge showy lollipop on a stick, such as scabious, and
decline is a cause for real alarm. blooms on plants that are the result of all members of the thistle family, are ideal
elaborate breeding. Any flower that is for attracting honey bees, which have
But British gardeners can actively rather short tongues so need easy
nurture and conserve the wild bee You do not access. Bumblebees have longer tongues
population. Gardens are always a rich need tricky so are better adapted for plants that
source of food for wild bees and with a plants. In fact have more of a funnel shape, such as
little care can be made even better for the opposite foxgloves.
them without any trouble or loss of
pleasure to the gardener. Bees love any flowering trees, so an
apple or a pear is a huge bonus. All
You do not need rare or tricky plants. legumes such as peas, beans, clover and
In fact the opposite is true. Bees need

14 Wildlife news / August 2017