As a keen florist, I attended multiple flower shows last year, the most notable of these being Chelsea Flower Show. In the humid tent full of carefully pruned sweet peas, roses and squeaky-clean vegetable displays there was a little stand purely dedicated to bees, specifically those native to the UK. It felt surprising that at an event which celebrates flowers and horticulture, so little attention was given to the insects that make so much of it possible.
I can’t say I’ve ever had much of an inclination toward bugs but I always found bees to be the least offensive of the bunch. Intrigued, I spent some time at the stand learning about the different varieties of bees, how much we really do depend on them and, most importantly, what we can be doing to help them.
There are around 250 species of bee in the UK, including bumblebees, honey bees, solitary bees and mining bees. All of these can be found in varying places throughout the UK but primarily in our back gardens. They are easy to identify and there are multiple ways in which we can be helping them.
By utilising what garden space we have (even just a windowsill!) we can support the struggling bee population in the UK. Planting even just one nectar rich flower in your garden supports not only bees but other lovely pollinators including butterflies, moths and hoverflies. Some of the best flowers to prioritise include honeysuckle, lavender, primrose and bluebells.
The importance of bees and pollinators extends far beyond just our gardens; bees also play a prominent role in British history and culture with bees having a closer connection to us in the City than we think. The Bank of England is host to six, healthy bee hives based in its Debden location alongside a full bee team. As symbols for industriousness and co-operation they appear to be an enduring symbol of the City, even making their way onto the new bank notes in the coming months.
Around 35 species of bee are under threat of extinction in the UK. A decline in bee diversity would have a notable knock-on impact on our natural bio-diversity. I hope from now on we all pay a little bit more attention to the bees around us and if possible take the steps to look after them in our very own gardens and shared spaces.
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