Pledge now for pollinators

Join our Put Pollinators First campaign – Emma Crawforth explains how

We’re writing about helping

pollinators in every issue of

GW this spring and summer, and to make a difference for pollinators we need your help. We’re going to join in here at the magazine too – team members have made individual pledges, as have our panel of experts, gathered to help us with the campaign. Every month we’ll be setting out some of those pledges, to inspire you to join us. This month our pledges have come from this feature’s writer, Dave Goulson, and fellow panellist Brigit Strawbridge Howard, and from me, too. Do let us know what pledges you’d like to make at gardenersworld.com/pollinator-pledge

Leave dandelions to flower!

Dandelions are often regarded as weeds. This month I’ll be leaving these gorgeous native wildflowers well alone, for they provide fantastic spring forage for hungry bees just emerged from hibernation. Deadhead them before the seeds release if you don’t want more next year!

Dave Goulson, panellist and entomologist. Find out more at gardenersworld.com/ caterpillar-plants

Plant lungwort

Having just learned from Dave Goulson that lungwort, also known as Pulmonaria,

attracts the hairy-footed flower bee, I am going to plant some in my garden.

Emma Crawforth, Gardening Editor.

Find out more at gardenersworld.com/ pulmonaria

Create a herb garden

I’ll be planting a new herb garden, with rosemary, marjoram, sage, and thyme as all are top pollinator plants, as well as chives, whose flowers are a magnet for the red-tailed bumblebee!

Brigit Howard, naturalist and panellist. Find out more at gardenersworld.com/herbs-wildlife