How to Make Your Garden Pollinator and Honeybee Friendly in the UK

Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, moths, and hoverflies, are vital for the reproduction of many plants and crops.

They transfer pollen from one flower to another, enabling fertilisation and seed production. However, pollinators are facing many threats, such as habitat loss, pesticide use, disease, and climate change.

As a result, many pollinator species are declining in numbers and diversity.

Gardens can play an important role in supporting pollinators, by providing them with food, shelter, and nesting sites.

Gardens can also benefit from pollinators, as they can enhance the beauty, yield, and quality of the plants and crops.

By making your garden pollinator and honeybee friendly, you can help conserve these essential insects, and enjoy their services and presence.

Here are some steps and tips on how to make your garden pollinator and honeybee-friendly in the UK:

1. Grow a variety of plants that provide nectar and pollen

One of the best ways to attract and support pollinators is to grow a variety of plants that provide nectar and pollen, which are the main food sources for pollinators.

Nectar is a sugary liquid that provides energy, while pollen is a protein-rich powder that provides nutrients.

Different pollinators have different preferences and needs, so it is important to grow a range of plants that can cater to them.

Some of the factors to consider when choosing plants for pollinators are:

• Flower shape and colour: Different pollinators have different abilities and preferences when it comes to accessing and seeing flowers.

• For example, bees prefer flowers that have a landing platform, such as daisies, sunflowers, and lavender, and can see colours in the blue and purple spectrum, such as bluebells, forget-me-nots, and alliums. Butterflies prefer flowers that have a tubular shape, such as honeysuckle, foxglove, and buddleia, and can see colours in the red and yellow spectrum, such as poppies, marigolds, and nasturtiums.

• Flowering time and duration: Different pollinators have different activity periods and lifespans, so it is important to grow plants that can provide a continuous supply of nectar and pollen throughout the year.

• For example, bees are active from early spring to late autumn, and need plants that can bloom in each season, such as crocus, primrose, and snowdrop in spring, clover, rose, and thyme in summer, and ivy, aster, and sedum in autumn.

• Flowering location and density: Different pollinators have different foraging ranges and habits, so it is important to grow plants that can suit their needs and preferences.

• For example, bees tend to visit flowers that are close to their nests, and prefer flowers that are grouped together in patches or clumps, rather than scattered or isolated. Butterflies tend to visit flowers that are exposed to the sun, and prefer flowers that are in open and sunny areas, rather than shaded or windy areas.

You can find a list of plants that are suitable for pollinators in the UK on the RHS Plants for Pollinators website.

You can also use the RHS Perfect for Pollinators logo to identify plants that are pollinator-friendly when buying from nurseries or garden centres.

Here are some examples of pollinator-friendly plants for each season in the UK:

• Spring: crocus, primrose, snowdrop, aubretia, grape hyacinth, lungwort, sweet violet, wood anemone, wallflower, currant, and English bluebell

• Summer: clover, rose, thyme, bramble, lime, raspberry, blackberry, purple toadflax, common mallow, lavender, and sea holly

• Autumn: ivy, aster, sedum, goldenrod, meadow saffron, and Michaelmas daisy

2. Provide water and shelter for pollinators

Another way to attract and support pollinators is to provide water and shelter for them, which are essential for their survival and well-being. Water is needed for drinking, cooling, and diluting honey, while shelter is needed for resting, hiding, and nesting.

Different pollinators have different requirements and preferences, so it is important to provide a range of options that can cater to them.

Some of the ways to provide water and shelter for pollinators are:

• Water sources: You can provide water for pollinators by having a pond, a birdbath, a fountain, or a shallow dish filled with water in your garden.

• You can also add some stones, pebbles, or marbles to the water, which can act as landing pads or islands for the pollinators to rest and drink. You should also change the water regularly, and keep it clean and fresh.

• Shelter plants: You can provide shelter for pollinators by having some plants that can offer protection and cover, such as hedges, shrubs, trees, and climbers. These plants can provide shade, warmth, and camouflage for the pollinators, and can also host some of their food plants or nesting sites. Some examples of shelter plants for pollinators are hawthorn, holly, ivy, and honeysuckle.

• Nesting sites: You can provide nesting sites for pollinators by having some structures or materials that can suit their needs and preferences. For example, you can provide nest boxes or hotels for solitary bees, which are wooden or metal boxes with holes or tubes of different sizes and shapes. You can also provide bundles of hollow stems, such as bamboo, reed, or elder, which can also be used by solitary bees. You can also provide pots or boxes filled with straw, hay, or moss, which can be used by bumblebees. You can also provide piles of stones, bricks, or logs, which can be used by various pollinators.

3. Avoid or reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides

A third way to attract and support pollinators is to avoid or reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides, which are chemicals that can harm or kill pollinators and their food plants.

Pesticides are chemicals that are used to control pests, such as insects, mites, fungi, and weeds, while herbicides are chemicals that are used to control weeds.

Both pesticides and herbicides can have direct or indirect effects on pollinators, such as poisoning, disorienting, or weakening them, or reducing their food sources and habitats.

Some of the ways to avoid or reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides are:

• Organic or natural methods: You can use organic or natural methods to control pests and weeds, such as hand-picking, hoeing, mulching, or using biological control, such as ladybirds, lacewings, or nematodes. You can also use organic or natural products, such as soap, vinegar, or garlic, which can have less impact on pollinators and the environment.

• Integrated pest management: You can use integrated pest management, which is a strategy that combines various methods to control pests and weeds, such as prevention, monitoring, and intervention. You can also use the principles of the RHS Pesticide Code, which are to avoid, reduce, and choose, when using pesticides and herbicides.

• You can avoid using pesticides and herbicides by choosing resistant or tolerant plants, or by creating a healthy and balanced garden. You can reduce using pesticides and herbicides by using them only when necessary, and by following the label instructions. You can choose using pesticides and herbicides by selecting the least harmful and most effective ones, and by avoiding spraying open flowers or pollinators.

• Tolerance and diversity: You can tolerate and embrace some pests and weeds, as they can provide food and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife. For example, aphids are food for many species of hoverfly larvae, while dandelions are food for many species of bee. You can also create and maintain a diverse and resilient garden, which can support a variety of pollinators and other wildlife, and can reduce the risk and impact of pests and weeds.

Conclusion

Pollinators are essential for the reproduction of many plants and crops, but they are also facing many threats and challenges.

Gardens can play an important role in supporting pollinators, by providing them with food, water, shelter, and nesting sites.

Gardens can also benefit from pollinators, as they can enhance the beauty, yield, and quality of the plants and crops.

By making your garden pollinator and honeybee friendly, you can help conserve these vital insects, and enjoy their services and presence.

We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about how to make your garden pollinator and honeybee-friendly in the UK.

if you are interested in buying pure and delicious honey from our family beekeeping business, please visit our Shop. Thank you