Addicted to Bees

Taraxacum officinale You might be surprised to find dandelion in my best bee plant list, but these bright, vibrant landing […]

The Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) is an iconic summer garden bee. It’s a solitary bee and will sometimes nest […]

Lamb’s ears is a magnet for bees, especially the wool carder bee

Look out for the leaf-cutter bees in your June garden. You might notice the notches on your rose leaves.

Many herbs, like borage are fantastic plants for pollinators. The flowers are generously rich in nectar. It’s easy to grow from seed and a great bee plant.

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.

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