Addicted to Bees

Here’s a great way to learn more about solitary bees. Listen in to the Wildlife World Community Podcast where Jean Vernon and Professor Jeff Ollerton talk about solitary bees

The Ashy Mining bee is just one of the 65 or so Andrena species in the UK. These are the ground nesting bees that excavate their nests in close mown areas of the lawn, bare soil and sunny banks.

The Hairy Footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) is one of the earliest emerging solitary bees. By the end of February and into early March the male of the species climbs out of his egg chamber and into the sunlight.

The first bumblebees we see in late winter and early spring are the overwintered Queen bees setting up a nest

Look out for winter active bumblebees in your garden and report your findings to BWARS

In November 2020, Jean Vernon was awarded a very prestigious award from The Garden Media Guild for her writing about bees

Let ivy grow in the garden to support pollinators and other wildlife

As autumn arrives the UK’s last emerging solitary bee appears in our gardens feeding on the common ivy that clothes our walls and houses

For a great bee plant in late summer look no further than the purple cone flower

Male bees are the lager louts of bee worldd, hanging around in nectar bars waiting for the girls