ON THE COVER Susie’s Garden
Save our bees! Susie lets us in on the best bee friendly plants for your garden – or do your bit even with a window box
Itry to grow as many insect friendly plants as I can in my garden, choosing varieties that provide pollen and nectar. Bees are vital for pollinating our food and plants. In parts of rural China, farm workers are having to apply pollen to flowers by hand because there has been such a drastic fall in the numbers of bees due to pesticide use. I find that so sad, so I like to do my bit to help insect numbers in my own patch.
We can all provide food for bees. Even if you don’t have a garden, you can plant up a window box or set some pots by the door containing scented herbs such as lavender, rosemary or thyme. If lots of people do this, it’s like providing insects with numerous service stations where they can refuel.
Heather lasts well in containers and the winter flowering varieties bloom when there is little else in flower. Bees need a drink in hot weather too, so put out a shallow dish with some pebbles in the bottom for them to land on.
Last year over 16,000 people took part in the Friends of the Earth’s Great British Bee Count which was featured on the BBC’s Springwatch programme. Between them, they recorded a total of more than 300,000 bees! That’s a wonderful example of citizen science, providing important information as well as being a positive way to get people – and especially children – to learn about the different types of bees.
The bee count aims to highlight how many different bee species live in the UK, and the importance of bees as pollinators. For example, many people don’t realise how many solitary bees there are. It also aims to get people thinking about what they might do for bees in their own garden.
The Great British Bee Count runs between May 17 to June 30 this year and is suitable for all ages. You can download a free, fun and easy-to-use app so you can identify and learn about the pollinators that visit our gardens, parks and countryside. Participants can record each species of bees they spot, as well as send in photos. Register now at WWW.GREATBRITISHBEECOUNT.CO.UK