HOW YOU
CAN HELP
Join us in the fight to protect these essential creatures by planting your own bee-friendly garden today!
BEE FRIENDLY GARDEN
One of the best things you can do to help honeybees is to provide them with a safe and welcoming habitat, you are not only helping to support the health of honeybees, but also providing habitat for a wide variety of other important pollinators. One way to do this is by creating a bee-friendly garden in your own backyard.
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Bees rely on nectar and pollen from flowers to survive, so planting a diverse array of flowers and plants in your garden can provide them with the food they need. Be sure to choose native plant species, as they are typically better adapted to local conditions and provide the most benefit to local bee populations.
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Plant a variety of flowering plants. When planting your garden, choose a mix of different plants that bloom at different times of the year. It's important to choose plants that will thrive in the UK climate and bloom at different times of the year.
Here are some options for each season:
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Spring: Snowdrop; Crocus; Hellebore; Bluebell; Lungwort; Primrose; Pulmonaria; Aubretia; Grape hyacinth
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Summer: Lavender; Foxglove; Delphinium; Sage; Catmint; Marjoram; Thyme; Echinacea; Rudbeckia; Scabious; Verbena bonariensis; Buddleia (also known as butterfly bush)
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Autumn: Ivy; Sedum; Michaelmas daisy; Aster; Goldenrod; Hebe; Heather; Japanese anemone; Calendula; Cosmos
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Provide a water source: Bees need access to clean water in order to survive. Set up a shallow water source in your garden, such as a bird bath or small pond.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
Avoid using pesticides and herbicides: These chemicals can be harmful to bees and other pollinators. Instead, opt for natural
pest control methods such as companion planting or using beneficial insects like ladybugs. Neonicotinoid-based insecticides
such as thiacloprid and acetamiprid have been found to be harmful to bees and can lead to their death. Despite their potential
risks, these insecticides are still approved for home and garden use and are readily available at most garden centres and DIY
shops. To avoid harming bees, it is important to carefully read the labels of any insecticides and refrain from using
neonicotinoid-based products in your garden.
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Create nesting sites: Some bee species nest in the ground, while others prefer to nest in hollow stems or holes in wood. Provide a variety of nesting sites in your garden, such as small piles of twigs or a bee hotel.
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Get involved in citizen science: You can help scientists better understand bees and other pollinators by participating in citizen science projects, such as bee monitoring or bumblebee surveys.
​Support local beekeepers: Beekeepers play a critical role in protecting and conserving honeybee populations, so supporting local beekeepers by purchasing their honey and other bee-related products can help to promote their work and ensure the continued health of local bee populations.
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Educate others: Raising awareness about the importance of honeybees and the threats they face is an essential part of saving the bees. Share information about the importance of bees with your friends, family, and community, and encourage them to take practical steps to support honeybee populations.
By taking these and other practical steps, we can all play a role in protecting and conserving honeybee populations, promoting their importance to humans and the environment, and ensuring a healthy and sustainable future for our planet.