Page 12 - Natural World Summer 2017

People & 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
Gardener’s World
@TheMontyDon

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

12 NATURAL WORLD summer 2017