Save Our Bees

There has been a lot of discussion lately about the decline in our bee population. This is a serious issue as bees don't just produce honey. By pollinating plants they are responsible for a third of the food we eat.
Various theories have been put forward regarding the cause of bee colonies dying, one of these being the rise of monoculture where large swathes of land are given over to single crops. The theory being that, like humans, bees need a varied diet to stay healthy. This is where gardeners can really make a difference by planting lots of nectar producing flowering plants which flower throughout the year. These could include crocuses, pulmonaria and fruit trees in spring, delphiniums, roses, lupins and flowering herbs such as rosemary, thyme and lavender in summer, and later flowering perennials such as salvia in the autumn.
Another way to help the bees is to provide suitable habitats. There are 3 general types of bee in Britain - honeybees, bumblebees and solitary bees. Honeybees live in manmade hives containing up to 70,000. Bumblebees are also social creatures, living in cavities in the ground containing around 300. The solitary bee usually lives in pairs in narrow holes in walls and in decaying wood. A dry stone wall at the bottom of my garden provides a good habitat for solitary bees and I once had a bumblebee nest in the side of a compost bin.
The use of pesticides can also have a negative impact, not just on the bees but on other beneficial insects. It is best to limit the use of these products, or better still stop using them altogether. Use soapy water for aphids and pick caterpillars and lily beetles off by hand. Plant native plants to encourage beneficial insects such as hoverflies which feed on aphids, a natural method of pest control. Increasing insect life in your garden also attracts other wildlife such as birds.