| Life without the birds and the bees is a horrifying thought. They are not only a delight to see and hear in the garden, but they are an integral part of the ecosystem that sustains us. Without them we would struggle to survive. Source: CC Foto John And yet the populations of both birds and bees have been hammered in recent years and there is no sign yet of them having turned the corner. The bird population has fared better than the bees. Although some species have suffered dramatic declines, like skylarks and lapwings, others have increased, such as long tailed tits. And a day doesn’t go by without me seeing a red kite circling over our garden. As far as the bee population goes, there is no such cause for optimism. Viruses and mites have had a devastating effect over the last 10 years and this wet summer will not have helped. A 30% drop in honeybee colonies followed the wet summer of 2007, so if the rain doesn’t let up this July, this winter could see another dramatic decline in bee numbers. Apple orchards in particular will suffer. So what can we do about it? The Soil Association has started a petition to ban neonicotinoid pesticides, which are known to kill honeybees. Signing this is a no brainer. Another no brainer is to make your garden bee-friendly. According to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, wherever you live in the UK you should be able to attract at least six bumblebee species into your garden, and perhaps as many as ten. All you need to do is go easy on the bedding plants like bizzy lizzies and begonias and instead plant traditional cottage garden plants like lavender and thyme. As thyme flowers early when there is little else around, it can be a lifesaver for bumblebees and will help the pollination of your broad beans which flower around the same time. The final thing to do is ensure your garden includes plenty of places for bees to survive the winter. Tuck a bumblebee nester under your lavender or hang a pollinating bee log outside your shed and you will be providing much needed refuge for a few bees. And a birdbox or two will help the tit and sparrow population, as will providing a supply of garden bird foods all year round, not just in the winter. Do all of this and you can rest easy that you are doing your bit for the birds and the bees. |
