Most people love to see bees in their garden – unless they get stung by then – but also, unwittingly we may be killing them. Many seeds are now coated with insecticides, which are toxic to all insects, including bees. If you are in any doubt as to whether your seeds have this effect, you should check the packet.
If you want to keep insects such as bees coming to your garden, you must stop using pesticides and insecticides altogether, as modern versions are very long-lasting and kill everything in their path. Garden composts often contain Imidacloprid, which can be disguised under the name ‘weevil protection’ or something similar. Plants will take in this chemical, which is then lethal to all insects, including earthworms that are actually beneficial to their environment.
Honey has well known health properties. Instead of going to your local supermarket, you should try and find a local beekeeper, preferably one that does not use chemicals. Beekeeping is also becoming a popular artisan trade – read up about it and you may even be interested in doing it yourself, particularly as the job market is not so secure nowadays. You don’t need expensive equipment; all you need is yourself, the right kind of equipment, a few bees and perhaps some good DIY skills.
You can also create the perfect environment in your garden for bees to flourish, by planting plenty of brightly-coloured plants and flowers; you don’t even need to make your garden too tidy. You can also turn over a corner of your garden to your local bee-keeper. If you want a lot of bees but don’t want to go all out and be a bee-keeper, you can always create a house for bees. Check online for how to make and maintain one.
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www.wildlife-gardening.org.uk
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