If you’ve been reading the news or watching the amazing legend that is David Attenborough, you’ve probably heard that it’s getting harder for bees to survive in our UK cities.
Just like humans, there are three main things bees need to thrive: food (i.e., pollen), water and shelter. Unfortunately, our gardens aren’t always full of these things, especially in warmer months.
However, there are many simple things you can do in your garden to make it a more attractive place for bees to visit.
If you want to invite more local bees to your garden this summer, here are three top tips to make your garden more bee-friendly in London.
1. PLANT BEE-FRIENDLY FLOWERS
One of the best things you can do for your local bees is to plant flowers full of pollen or nectar for them to enjoy.
Even though most flowers bloom in spring and summer, there are some species you can grow in winter and autumn that’ll continue to attract the bees in colder seasons. As a bonus, they’ll also make your garden look full of life at the end of the year, which can help your garden stand out if you’re selling in winter.
Here’s a quick guide to some of the flowers you can grow in each season:
- Spring: Pansies, Bluebells, Primroses, Hawthorn, Peonies, Crocus and Rhododendrons
- Summer: Lavender, Foxgloves, Snapdragons, Phlox, Echinacea, Poppies, Globe Thistle and Hollyhock
- Autumn: Ivy, Witch Hazel, Borage and Zinnias
- Winter: Snowdrops, Winter Clematis, Winter Honeysuckle and Winter Heather
2. BUILD BEE HOTELS
We love this idea! Building a bee hotel for your garden can provide a shelter for local bees to rest. Creating one is also a great family-friendly activity that ends up with something nice for you and the bees since they can also become a rustic garden feature.
A bee hotel doesn’t need to be very big and should be placed around 1-4 feet off the ground and ideally in a position that gets full sunlight.
Visit the RSPB UK website for a full guide on how to make your own bee hotel.
3. CREATE AN OUTDOOR HERB GARDEN
Even though we often think bees only like flowers, this isn’t true. They also love many different garden herbs. If you want to make your garden more bee-friendly, consider creating an outdoor herb garden in spring or summer.
Common kitchen herbs like thyme, chives, sage and creeping rosemary are ideal for attracting the bees. Plus, they’ll make your garden smell amazing and you can use the cuttings to make fresh meals in the kitchen!
CONCLUSION
Making your garden bee-friendly is a great way to help the planet. It can make your garden and local area a more environmentally friendly place to live. Plus, having an eco-friendly home can sometimes help with your resale value and attractiveness to future buyers.
Your neighbourhood real estate specialists at Properly can tell you more about how desirable a greener home is in London.
Get in touch with our friendly team today by calling 0207 459 4400 or emailing us at [email protected] for a chat about your property and how we can help.
