Planting for bees...
You've probably read in the news that honey bee and bumble bee numbers are in decline. Much of this is due to new plant cultivars in gardens (more double blooms and cultivars with little or no pollen or nectar) and changes in agriculture (decline in flower rich hay meadows for example).
bees urgently need your help and considering bees help you (Einstein was reported to have said: "if something eliminated bees from our planet, mankind would perish within 4 years") then there's no excuse!
Plant early flowering plants to help the Queen Bee lay more eggs. Salix spp (Willow), Chaenomeles speciosa (quince) and Corylus (Hazels) are all good options. Then plant something for June when the colony has peak numbers, something like rosemary, Sambucus Nigra and Raspberries. Finally for Autumn when bees build up fat and protein to survive winter, try Agastache foeniculum, Lavandula Angustifolia (English lavender) and solidago (Golden Rod).
Further suitable plants can be found at St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres in Exeter and you can pick up a free advice leaflet.
You've probably read in the news that honey bee and bumble bee numbers are in decline. Much of this is due to new plant cultivars in gardens (more double blooms and cultivars with little or no pollen or nectar) and changes in agriculture (decline in flower rich hay meadows for example).
bees urgently need your help and considering bees help you (Einstein was reported to have said: "if something eliminated bees from our planet, mankind would perish within 4 years") then there's no excuse!
Plant early flowering plants to help the Queen Bee lay more eggs. Salix spp (Willow), Chaenomeles speciosa (quince) and Corylus (Hazels) are all good options. Then plant something for June when the colony has peak numbers, something like rosemary, Sambucus Nigra and Raspberries. Finally for Autumn when bees build up fat and protein to survive winter, try Agastache foeniculum, Lavandula Angustifolia (English lavender) and solidago (Golden Rod).
Further suitable plants can be found at St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres in Exeter and you can pick up a free advice leaflet.
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