Bees and Bulbs

As the leaves begin to fall and winter approaches; the cold, dark months often feel eternal but fear not, we are already preparing for spring. Bulbs are the perfect remedy for the winter blues and as the sun stretches in early January, we begin to see new life emerge with the bobbing heads of snowdrops, crocus and snakehead fritillaries. Not only are flowering bulbs a welcome relief of colour but they also provide much needed nectar for early pollinating insects such as solitary bees.

After winter hibernation, solitary bees like miners, leafcutters and hairy footed flower bees surface often having a few hours to feed or face starvation; that’s where we come in. Urban environments can seem desolate of insects and wildlife but if nourished and managed effectively through diverse planting, they can provide an abundance of food and shelter for many insects.

A recent study provided by the UK pollinator monitoring scheme suggests a drastic fall in solitary bee numbers, where 57% of insects recorded were honeybees and only a small representation of solitary bees, revealing a need to re-balance our understanding of the importance of diversity in insect life. There are around 270 bee species in the UK, the honeybee being only one of them and following recent data, they are in fact not in decline whereas wild, native bees are threatened due to habitat destruction, climate change and pesticide use.

In addition to bulb planting Better Bankside’s green spaces, we will be actively encouraging ground nesting sites, which will be achieved by leaving fallen leaves that can provide warmth and protection and refraining from disturbing open ground.

Planting will start over the next few weeks which will provide splashes of colour throughout the early months of 2025 right into the beginning of summer, with daffodils, tulips and alliums making appearances. Make sure to look out for these moments of hope and remember the darker days are always fleeting and spring will round the corner before we know it.