Article Source: Dobbies
Last Updated: 18 May 2021 13:56
This month sees the return of ‘World Bee Day’ (Thursday 20th May), celebrating the importance of bees and the significance of the iconic black and yellow striped pollinator.
Following the recent launch of their #sustainabledobbies campaign, the experts at Dobbies Garden Centres have shared their top tips to help make your garden a bee-friendly haven.
Not your average garden centre, Dobbies is committed to educating about the importance of both wildlife and environmentally-friendly practices, products and sustainable solutions. To support World Bee Day, Horticultural Director at Dobbies Marcus Eyles has shared easy ways to support pollinators in your garden.
Marcus said: “Our gardens are natural playgrounds for bees but with some bee species in decline, we need to do everything we can to ensure their survival and, with a little effort, it’s easy to give them a helping hand. Bees play a vital role in the natural world and it’s everyone’s job to do all we can to protect these precious pollinators. From the addition of some front garden flowers to letting grass grow a little longer, there’s something to be done in all gardens, no matter the size or style.”
Best blooms for bees…Nectar rich flowers for a garden buzz
Lavender: Famed for being beautifully fragrant, the purple flowers of lavender not only add a lovely touch to the front of a border but are extremely rich in nectar for the bees.
Clover: Don’t rush to trim your lawn if it’s full of clover. Growing in most terrains, these native garden flowers are great animal fodder and a magnet for honeybees. Let a patch of your lawn grow and watch the bees flock to your garden.
Honeysuckle: A versatile climbing plant with a beautiful scent, honeysuckle is a great addition to the garden – and bees love it. It grows well scrambling up a trellis in a semishaded spot, with the sweet nectar attracting garden bumblebees.
Foxglove: A cottage garden favourite, foxgloves are tall and elegant, with long-tongued bumblebees able to drink easily from the tubular shape of the flower. Full of rich nectar, the little tubes also add a pop of vibrant summer colour to your garden.
5 tips for garden pollen power
1. Plant a variety of flowers
Bumblebees have tongues of different lengths, designed to feed from different shaped petals. So a good variety of flowering plants is essential. Traditional cottage garden flowers such as Lupins, Hollyhocks, Lavender and Foxglove work well. Sunflowers are excellent too. Avoid flowers with double or multi-petalled blooms, which are difficult for bees to access.
Marjoram, Mint, Fennel, Sage and Thyme are attractive herbs for bees. Trees, shrubs and grasses are also useful. Bees need food throughout the year, so think about plants such as heathers and winter-flowering trees that will provide good foraging in leaner times. Ask your local Dobbies’ expert for advice if you aren’t sure.
2. Cater for thirsty bees
Don’t forget drinking water. A pond, water feature or even a shallow dish filled with stones for bees to land on will provide a good source.
3. Give bees a home
Different species of bees nest in different habitats. Some solitary bees nest in the ground, but others will appreciate a simple bee house. Position it out of direct sunlight in a south-facing spot, if possible.
4. Give the mower a rest
Grasses and lawn weeds, such as dandelion, give bees shelter and feeding spots. So, you can let the grass grow longer with good conscience. You should then cut your lawn in late summer once all the meadow flowers have finished and set their seeds for the following years blooms.
5. Take care with chemicals
Limit the use of pesticides as far as you can. Insecticides used to control aphids, for example, also harm bees. Always follow label instructions and never spray open flowers. As part of our #sustaintabledobbies, there is additional focus on the safer range of pest control products, to reduce the impact on beneficial garden insects and wildlife. We do not stock weedkillers that contain glyphosate or slug killers that contain metaldehyde, and rodenticides have been delisted.
A spectacular multimedia show celebrating Vincent van Gogh's life and stunning artworks is coming to Glasgow this summer!
READ MOREEastwood Park Theatre's forthcoming season features several sell-out shows and a host of well-known names, following the success of its 50th anniversary last year.
READ MORENational Theatre of Scotland launches a new interactive map for Scotland to demonstrate its love for the Big Yin, inviting people to share their own Billy Connolly memories.
READ MORETouring Scotland from June, the cast is announced for Hen Night Horror, an original musical comedy that promises to put the willies right up ye!
READ MOREAldi Scotland's popular 'Best Home Bar' competition has returned for another year, with a year's supply of beer up for grabs!
READ MOREPaisley Food and Drink Festival returns to the town this weekend for a two-day feastival with plenty for everyone to sample and enjoy.
READ MOREWith a staggering 14 million adults in the UK unable to swim, the team behind The Learn to Swim National Framework has launched a new campaign to encourage adults in Scotland to learn the life skill.
READ MOREEast Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure has launched a brand new dedicated functional training space at Barrhead Foundry, to enhance the current fitness offering for the community.
READ MOREIn the heart of East Renfrewshire, nestled amidst the vibrant community, a special event is set to unfold.
READ MORENow in its 30th year, the show is the go-to exhibition for any self-builders or renovators looking for practical tips, expert advice, or the chance to view 1000s of products.
READ MORELatest investigations by National Trust for Scotland archaeologists at Culloden Battlefield have recovered a wide range of artefacts.
READ MOREThe Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Game Fair (SGF) is back for 2024, celebrating its 35-year anniversary at Scone Palace.
READ MOREDobbies, the UK's leading garden centre, is inviting plant enthusiasts and foodies alike to a brand new Afternoon Tea and Planting Experience at its stores nationwide.
READ MOREThis year's Springfest, set to take place this weekend, has been postponed due to forecasted high winds.
READ MOREEast Renfrewshire Council has announced a programme of works to further improve the facilities in Barrhead's Cowan Park.
READ MOREHistoric Environment Scotland (HES) has announced that over twenty sites across the country are set to reopen their doors to visitors this weekend.
READ MOREJoin Diabetes Scotland for a virtual event about an exciting new programme supporting children and young people 11 - 25 living with type 1 diabetes - Together Type 1.
READ MORECarmunnock Heritage Trail launches this Easter weekend. It's a unique, free, multi-media tour with 16 QR coded video stops around Glasgow's last remaining village.
READ MORENoughties stars The Cheeky Girls, Gareth Gates and S Club 7's Bradley McIntosh have taken a sip back in time to mark the release of IRN-BRU's new 2000s-inspired flavours!
READ MOREGP Racing Simulators will incorporate 10 professional grade racing simulators, each equipped with a racing seat, steering wheel, pedals and a 43" monitor, alongside a licensed bar and dining complex.
READ MOREDobbies is welcoming families along to 68 of its stores this Easter to enjoy an array of free activities, including its Little Seedlings Club workshop and Easter Holiday sessions.
READ MOREThe search is on to find the best of the best in Scottish tourism as the Scottish Thistles Awards returns.
READ MOREThis year's FREE Springfest is playing host to two great Scottish chefs – Niall Murray and Rohan Wadke, who will inspire visitors with their FREE cooking demonstrations.
READ MOREA host of brand-new family favourites are landing at Vue this Easter, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to spend quality family time at the big screen during the holidays.
READ MORESpring is in the air and with it comes the return of one of Scotland's largest outdoor food and drink festivals to Paisley!
READ MOREIf you care for someone living with dementia, Dementia Walking Buddies project might be the thing you're looking for.
READ MOREFull cast and creatives announced for the tour of Maggie & Me, the first stage adaptation of Damian Barr's award-winning memoir touring UK in May and June!
READ MOREDobbies today launches Dobbies Community Gardens, to offer support for community and charity groups across the UK to help transform, restore or start their indoor or outdoor green spaces.
READ MOREA sinister story involving 'stovies' and a grisly tale about the strange sheep of Greshornish have been chosen as the winning and runner-up stories in The Glencairn Glass crime short story competition
READ MOREThe National Trust for Scotland is going hopping mad for Easter and hosting a bumper 35 Easter egg trails at the special places in its care this spring.
READ MOREGo Radio | Number 1 for Glasgow & The West - Listen on DAB, Online or on your Smart Speaker, just say "Launch Go Radio"