In-fill development across the Thames Valley area is making life difficult for our insect pollinators, but a few simple measures can make a big difference
Nectar rich crops
Bees do an important job pollinating local crops.
They adore nectar-rich oil-seed rape and field beans which flower in May and provide a crop of delicious spring honey.
Raspberries grown on local fruit farms also provide lots of nectar late into the season, and apple, pear and plum trees all make a useful contribution in exchange for the bees pollination services.
Bees do an important job pollinating local crops.
They adore nectar-rich oil-seed rape and field beans which flower in May and provide a crop of delicious spring honey.
Raspberries grown on local fruit farms also provide lots of nectar late into the season, and apple, pear and plum trees all make a useful contribution in exchange for the bees pollination services.
Plant wild flower field margins
Local farmer, Jim Headington helps pollinators on his farm by planting wild flower field margins alongside his wheat fields. Annual Wildflower mix and Landscape and Wildflower Conservation mix gives a spectacular display that help countless bees, butterflies and hoverflies.
Farmers interested improving their field margins can contact Jim for advice and seed.
Farmers interested improving their field margins can contact Jim for advice and seed.
Spray sensibly - Join BeeConnected
Beekeepers understand that farmers need to protect their crops. BeeConnected is a joint venture under the Voluntary Initiative between the BBKA, the National Farmers Union and the Crop Protection Association to encourage farmers to tell beekeepers when spraying is planned within a 5 km radius of their hives, allowing the beekeeper to take mitigating action such as moving their hives or shutting the bees in for a short while.
Farmers and beekeepers can sign up to the scheme here.
If you must use pesticides in your garden or allotment, spray in the evening when the bees have stopped flying. Only spray on a still day so the pesticide doesn't drift and avoid spraying plants that are flowering. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Trees for bees
There can be thousands of flowers on a single tree which is why bees love trees.
In early spring pussy willows provide essential pollen for growing bee colonies. Later blackthorn, hawthorn, crab apple, apple, plum, pear, and flowering cherry all offer nectar and pollen, and in July, lime trees drip with nectar that the bees turn into delicate minty-flavoured honey.
Here's a full list of trees for bees that can be grown in the Thames Valley.
There can be thousands of flowers on a single tree which is why bees love trees.
In early spring pussy willows provide essential pollen for growing bee colonies. Later blackthorn, hawthorn, crab apple, apple, plum, pear, and flowering cherry all offer nectar and pollen, and in July, lime trees drip with nectar that the bees turn into delicate minty-flavoured honey.
Here's a full list of trees for bees that can be grown in the Thames Valley.
Living lawns
The bees would be in clover if you didn't cut the grass!
The perfect lawn is dead; dead boring! Rather than poison the grass with chemicals, let the dandelions, clover and other wild flowers grow and enjoy the gentle hum of insects on a summer's day.
Just leaving the grass uncut for a month from mid June would help, or have a wild area that you only cut a few times a year.
The bees would be in clover if you didn't cut the grass!
The perfect lawn is dead; dead boring! Rather than poison the grass with chemicals, let the dandelions, clover and other wild flowers grow and enjoy the gentle hum of insects on a summer's day.
Just leaving the grass uncut for a month from mid June would help, or have a wild area that you only cut a few times a year.
Gardens perfect for pollinators
Many of the popular garden flowers are useless for pollinators because they don't produce nectar, or the nectar isn't accessible to bees, or in some cases it's toxic! Just changing your planting choices can be a big help.
Spring time
Snowdrops, hellebores, crocuses and grape hyacinth are all useful to bees, whereas pansies, daffodils and tulips are generally not.
Summer
Try growing helleniums, echiums and echinops instead of pelargonium (geraniums), begonias, busy lizzy, and petunias.
Here's a list of garden plants for pollinators.
Many of the popular garden flowers are useless for pollinators because they don't produce nectar, or the nectar isn't accessible to bees, or in some cases it's toxic! Just changing your planting choices can be a big help.
Spring time
Snowdrops, hellebores, crocuses and grape hyacinth are all useful to bees, whereas pansies, daffodils and tulips are generally not.
Summer
Try growing helleniums, echiums and echinops instead of pelargonium (geraniums), begonias, busy lizzy, and petunias.
Here's a list of garden plants for pollinators.
Hands off the ivy!
Ivy flowers in September/October when it glistens with sugar-rich nectar. Red admiral butterflies, honey bees, wasps and a wide range of solitary bees and hover flies all rely on ivy to give them one last feed before winter. The ivy berries that follow provide winter food for birds such as blackcaps, thrushes and pigeons.
If you must cut the ivy, do it in early spring.
Ivy flowers in September/October when it glistens with sugar-rich nectar. Red admiral butterflies, honey bees, wasps and a wide range of solitary bees and hover flies all rely on ivy to give them one last feed before winter. The ivy berries that follow provide winter food for birds such as blackcaps, thrushes and pigeons.
If you must cut the ivy, do it in early spring.
Buy local honey
You can support local beekeeping by buying honey from hives located in the Thames Valley area. Here's a list of local honey retailers:
You can support local beekeeping by buying honey from hives located in the Thames Valley area. Here's a list of local honey retailers:
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Eton/Windsor
Tastes Delicatessen, 92 High St, Eton Windsor Farm Shop, Datchet Road, Windsor |
Englefield Green
Savill Gardens, Wick Lane, Englefield Green Langley/Iver Copas Farm Shop, Billet Lane, Iver |
Never feed honey to bees
Some bee diseases can be transmitted by bees feeding on honey from infected hives. The UK has a network of bee inspectors who work with beekeepers to try and prevent these diseases, but this is often not the case elsewhere in the world. Therefore, never feed honey (even local honey) to bees because you could be spreading lethal bee diseases.
If you want to feed the bees, grow some flowers!
Some bee diseases can be transmitted by bees feeding on honey from infected hives. The UK has a network of bee inspectors who work with beekeepers to try and prevent these diseases, but this is often not the case elsewhere in the world. Therefore, never feed honey (even local honey) to bees because you could be spreading lethal bee diseases.
If you want to feed the bees, grow some flowers!
Become a beekeeper
Beekeeping is a fascinating hobby that combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience. Joining a local beekeeping association such as ours provides valuable support and mentoring to get the new beekeeper started. Here's some information on membership of our Society.
Beekeeping is a fascinating hobby that combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience. Joining a local beekeeping association such as ours provides valuable support and mentoring to get the new beekeeper started. Here's some information on membership of our Society.
