How your block can help bees, with trees

A HANDBOOK offering practical guidance on planting strategically to feed bees is now available free to download.

It’s based on 10 years of field and laboratory research by the New Zealand Trees for Bees Research Trust and funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and others.

“The beauty of our approach is that farmers don’t need to set aside land specially for this planting,” says Dr Angus McPherson, Trees for Bees farm planting adviser and trustee, one of the lead researchers for the handbook. “We show farmers how to incorporate a lowmaintenance bee forage planting plan into planting they’re already establishing to improve their farmland.”

The handbook’s principles and guidelines can be adapted to any type of farm, and cover 10 different types of plantation, including wetlands, shelterbelts, edible plantations, and paddock shade and shelter. For each one, there are practical examples, illustrations, advice, and plant lists.

“Bees all around the world are facing a number of threats, including pests, disease, and pesticides. The best weapon against these threats is to provide our bees with a steady supply of forage. That includes ensuring a wide range of flowering plants in spring and autumn when bees are most at risk of pollen and nectar shortages.”

Download it for free: treesforbeesnz.org/handbook