Bees are absolutely necessary for the ecosystem because they pollinate around a third of the food we eat and 80% of flowers. Without pollinators such as bees or butterflies, the natural system will fail, and we would simply start struggling to find edible plants. Bee numbers have fallen in recent years so creating a safe haven for pollinators, especially bees and is crucial for our survival. Here’s a guide to help you create the perfect bee-friendly garden.
Create a bee hotel
You could decide to make your own or to simply purchase one, bee hotels are great to create a safe place for the bees to lay their eggs, giving them a good supply of food for the larvae to survive. We would advise to try to place your bee hotel full south, facing the sun, try to keep the contents as dry as possible to avoid mould and the entrance clear.
A wildflower patch
Wildflowers are the best plants to help bees because they have evolved with them and are usually native to the country they come from. Providing them with both nectar and pollen, they’re also pretty to look at in a garden and will give it a nice natural look. You can find plenty of seeds online or in garden centres, there are even little kits to help you plant them with ease if you’re unsure on how to start.
Take it easy on the weeding
Weeds are famously known to be annoying because they keep growing back and tend to not bring any real value to your garden, getting rid of them is actually one of the most well-known gardening jobs. However, they can be really useful for bees, lawn clovers and even dandelions will provide them with pollen and nectar. A well-kept, longer lawn is also a beautiful sight and can make your outdoor area look even prettier, adding a real natural touch to it. If you have some nice outdoor furniture, you could just invest in a patio to keep the rest of the garden quiet for any wildlife to enjoy.
A bee oasis
Adding a little water fountain or just creating a watering station for bees can be really useful for their survival. In fact, bees are known to dehydrate in extreme dry hot weather, it’s not uncommon to see bumblebees and other kinds of bees on the floor, looking as if they were dead, however they are normally just exhausted and thirsty, that’s why offering water to your bees can be really helpful to them.
Overall, creating a bee haven doesn’t have to be difficult or even expensive, a few seeds and some water could literally be enough and make a massive difference to their survival.
