Bee-Friendly

Bees are generally non-aggressive and essential pollinators of fruit, vegetable and other plants in the garden, so you'll want to encourage them if you want your garden to thrive! 

Here's a few tips on how to attract these natural pollinators.

Plant bee friendly flowers
Over the past 60 years the UK has lost 97% of its species rich wildflower meadows, so grow some bee friendly plants and flowers. Not only will they look lovely in the garden, they'll attract all species of bee and other useful and interesting insects too. They also work beautifully in window boxes and planters. The best type of flowers are single flowers, which provide more food for pollinators than double flowers, which are filled with petals. Bees find blue, purple and yellow flowers most appealing. Flat or shallow blossoms, such as daisies, zinnias, asters and Queen Anne's lace, will attract the largest variety of bees.

Give a bit of the garden back to nature
If there's a spare corner in your garden, leave it to go a little wild. By giving the land back to nature, you’ll attract all sorts of animals and insects, not just bees.

Leave the grass longer
If you have a lawn, let it grow longer for a while. When you do mow, cut less closely – just raise the notches on the mower to lift the cutting blade a few centimeters. This will help give pollinators places to feed and shelter in the grass. Be careful not to tread on them, though.

Don’t use pesticides
Pesticides can be toxic, not only to bees, but also birds, butterflies and other animals. Instead, try using organic methods of pest control that will increase the biodiversity of your garden.

Provide a bee habitat
A secure place to live is crucial to solitary and colony bees. You can help all types of bee by installing a few homemade bee nesters. Simply bundle together a few of these bee tubes and place in hedgerows, flower gardens, crooks of trees, anywhere bees may want to live. 

Once you have attracted bees to your garden, sit back and watch them go about their daily work – they really are fascinating creatures.