3
kitchensbymiketaylor.co.uk http://www.kitchensbymiketaylor.co.uk/blog/2013/07/23/3-ways-we-can-all-help-bees/ 3 Ways We Can All Help Bees I’m sure by now everyone is aware of the plight of bees. We’ve always taken insects for granted, either ignoring them or hating them depending on whether they’re biting, stinging or just being pests. But in recent times not so many of us have realised just how much we rely on them. It’s only when you understand that up to a third of our food production depends on pollinating insects such as bees that we start to grasp just how fragile the environment is and how easily we can upset the natural balance. We create beautiful kitchens, and we know you appreciate having a wonderful kitchen to cook, eat and entertain in. But where would we be without all the glorious variety of natural foodstuffs that help make our kitchens such creative and welcoming places? Thankfully, it’s not too late. There are lots of things we can do to help bees, and hopefully go some way towards tipping nature’s balance back in their favour. Phone App The Waitrose Bee-Friend Your Garden app f or iPhone and Android smartphones allows us to take part in a Citizen Science project for research undertaken by the University of Sussex. The aim is to collect as much data as possible from around the country to better understand which plants attract pollinators. To download the bee app and take part in this vital research, please click the links above to go to either iTunes or Google Play. Open a Bee Hotel

3 Ways We Can All Help Bees

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: 3 Ways We Can All Help Bees

kit chensbymiket aylo r.co .uk http://www.kitchensbymiketaylor.co .uk/blog/2013/07/23/3-ways-we-can-all-help-bees/

3 Ways We Can All Help Bees

I’m sure by now everyone is aware of the plight ofbees. We’ve always taken insects for granted,either ignoring them or hating them depending onwhether they’re biting, stinging or just being pests.But in recent times not so many of us have realisedjust how much we rely on them. It’s only when youunderstand that up to a third of our food productiondepends on pollinating insects such as bees thatwe start to grasp just how f ragile the environment isand how easily we can upset the natural balance.

We create beautiful kitchens, and we know youappreciate having a wonderful kitchen to cook, eatand entertain in. But where would we be without allthe glorious variety of natural foodstuf fs that helpmake our kitchens such creative and welcoming places?

Thankfully, it’s not too late. There are lots of things we can do to help bees, andhopefully go some way towards tipping nature’s balance back in their favour.

Phone App

The Waitrose Bee-Friend Your Garden app for iPhone and Android smartphonesallows us to take part in a Citizen Science project for research undertaken by theUniversity of Sussex. The aim is to collect as much data as possible f rom around thecountry to better understand which plants attract pollinators. To download the beeapp and take part in this vital research, please click the links above to go to eitheriTunes or Google Play.

Open a Bee Hotel

Page 2: 3 Ways We Can All Help Bees

Bee House from Not On The High Street

Linnaria Canon J Went

Open a Bee Hotel

Bees need somewhere to live, just as wedo. With the destruction of so much oftheir natural habitat having an impact onthe population and speeding up theirdecline, we can help by creatingalternative living arrangements for them.

It’s not too hard to make a bee housethat’s suitable for solitary bees, but ifyou’re not craf ty or simply don’t have thetime, then grand, ready-made hotels andapartments are available. Most look likevariations of this one, f rom Not On TheHigh Street.

Bee-Friendly Plants

In the Ground

Cultivated plants may look wonderful with their showy blooms and vibrant colours,but you may notice the bees and other pollinating insects don’t always think toohighly of them.

Herbs and heathers, wildf lowers and old fashionedf lowering plants such as snapdragons,cornf lowers, lavender and foxgloves are the onesbees love. Or you could grow Linnaria, a lovely old-fashioned looking plant with tall pink spires.Cottage gardens are very much in fashion again,which is great news for bees if we all plant just afew cottage style plants.

In Planters and Tubs

Maybe you don’t want to give over some of yourgarden to bee-f riendly planting, or maybe you don’thave the spare space. The good news is that it’spossible to create a beautiful feeding station forbees by planting in tubs. You get a gorgeous showof colour and greenery right where you want it, andthe bees get to harvest the nectar just as easily as they do f rom plants in the ground.

Page 3: 3 Ways We Can All Help Bees

All kinds of bee-f riendly plants are equally as good in pots as in the earth, with herbsbeing a particularly good example. Try growing chives, marjoram or oregano. If youlike an abundance of bright f lowers, grow nasturtiums. You can eat the leaves andthe f lowers.

Here’s an excellent resource f rom the RHS on growing herbs in containers if youfancy giving it a go.

Are you helping to save the bees? We’d love to hear your take on the subject.