It has become widely known that bees are vital for the environment and we need to do all we can to protect them. We can help with this by making our gardens attractive to our pollinators, and here are five simple ways to do it:
1. Use local plants
Plants and flowers native to your area are much more attractive to bees than exotic ones. They also have the added bonus of being well adapted to your local conditions so are easy to care for. So, while there’s nothing wrong with some Mediterranean fauna, make sure you throw in some UK-based plants too.
2. Use several colours
Bees can see colour well, so bright and contrasting flowers will help guide them in and around your garden. Good colours to choose are purples and bright whites.
3. Use different-shaped flowers
There are several different types of bees and they have varying tongue lengths. Different bees will feed off different flower shapes, so the more variety, the more bees you can help.
4. Offer shelter and shade
Like any creature, excessive heat can fatigue a hard-working bee. Provide plants with large leaves so that there are shady spots for bees to cool off and rest.
5. Stagger bloom times
Try to select flowers and plants that flower at different times of the year. This way, you’ll provide nectar for sustained periods of time.
If you’re really serious about your bees, why not set up bee boxes in your garden?
