Caroline Wykes of Hilltop Plant Nursery, Islip

As a nation, 98% of our native meadowland has been lost in the last 60 years and Northamptonshire has lost the most of any county in the UK.

Consequently, bees and other pollinators have been greatly affected. Three species of bumblebee have become extinct and two native bees have been lost in the last six years. Gardeners can play a vitally important role in providing a reliable food source and habitat for the bees that in turn pollinate a large proportion of the food that we eat. Anyone who grows their own vegetables can testify to the increased productivity of their crop if they have pollinator friendly fl owers in or near their plot.

We all want our gardens to be beautiful and with just a few key plants they can also be very helpful to the bee. There are a few simple points to consider when choosing what to plant: Bees forage for pollen/nectar from March/April right through to November so it is important to refl ect this need in the fl owering seasons of each plant. From the crocus, aquilegias, ajuga and cerinthe of spring; the herbs, verbenas, alliums, daisies and verbascums of summer to the autumn rudbeckias, fuschias and heleniums that remain until the fi rst frosts.

The herbaceous perennial comes into its own, as with many, the cutting down of some initial blooms will provide a second fl ush later in the season. Plants such as ivy are also essential as they provide when little else is available.

Foxgloves are brilliant because they go on for weeks, as are hardy geraniums and monardas. Whether a bee can access pollen or nectar depends on the fl ower head shape and a range of shapes is required. Single fl owers are a must, as opposed to doubles which provide
little in the way of food. If the fl ower is open or cup shaped it offers easy access for the bee.

Plants with daisy or ‘pincushion’ fl owers such as echinaceas, scabious and astrantias, where numerous small fl owers are collected on one head, are really very good indeed. Those with lots of individual fl owers held on spikes such as lavender, agastache and larger open fl owers such as cosmos and single dahlias, are also very attractive.

It would appear that plants in the purple spectrum are the most attractive to bees overall as are yellows, whilst fragrance is designed to lure in the pollinating insect. Bees will also hone in on plants that occupy an open sunny position and the nearer a plant is to its ‘natural’ original the better it is for bees.

Finally, try to provide a source of water that has shallow edges. Bees need two litres of water a day in hot weather to keep their hives cool. Being as busy as a bee is thirsty work! If you only choose one new plant this year make it a bee-friendly one.

Happy gardening!