Bees

There is so much in the news at the moment about the plight of bees that you are probably well aware of the importance of encouraging bees into your garden and allotment. On our site we are lucky to have a plot holder with a hive. It has only recently be installed and to be honest you would not really even know it was there. There are lots of bees on our plot now but, to be honest, there always has been. However, I think generally there were more bumblebees than honey bees and now I definitely see the honey bees out and about foraging for pollen. Just in case you did not know, bees are brilliant pollinators and I must say that my crops are all doing very well this year. I love seeing bees on my plot and enjoy watching them move around the flowers.

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There are a wide variety of bees, far more than you are probably aware of. There are honey bees, bumblebees and solitary bees in this country and there are many varieties of each.

If you would like to find out more about the current issues surrounding bees try clicking on these links:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bees

http://vanishingbees.co.uk

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/collections/p007rdq3 – this is a video clip

If you would like to keep bees here are some websites to help start your research:

British bee keeping association (BBKA)

National bee unit

If you would like to find out a little more about the different types of bees try these:

Bumblebee Conservation Trust – for identifying bumblebees

Bee improvement program for Cornwall – for identifying honey bees

British bee keepers association: Bee and wasp information leaflet

The Pollinator Garden