Did you know that over 80% of UK plants rely on bees for pollination?
Honeybees and bumblebees are the unsung heroes of the natural world, working tirelessly to ensure that our gardens, crops, and food systems thrive. But with the rapid decline of bee populations, it’s more important than ever to create a safe and welcoming space for these amazing insects. By planting the right flowers and providing a little extra care, you can turn your garden into a bee haven that supports honeybees and bumblebees all year round!

Why Are Honeybees and Bumblebees so important?

Honeybees: The tiny heroes of our EcosystemHoneybees are critical to pollinating plants, including many of the fruits and vegetables we rely on every day. These small but mighty insects pollinate about one-third of the world’s food crops, such as apples, strawberries, and almonds, just to name a few. But their contribution goes far beyond food - they also help maintain biodiversity by pollinating wildflowers, trees, and plants that support other creatures in the ecosystem.

 - Honey production: Honeybees also produce honey and beeswax, which have been used for thousands of years for food, medicine, and skincare.
 - The colony: A honeybee colony works as a highly organised unit with one queen, workers, and drones. They collaborate to gather nectar, produce honey, and ensure the colony survives.
 - Pollination power: Honeybees are essential for pollinating crops in the UK, and without them, many of our favourite foods would be in short supply!

Bumblebees: The fuzzy powerhouses

While honeybees are famous for their hard work, bumblebees are also invaluable to our gardens. These fuzzy little creatures have an important role to play in pollinating plants that require a little extra muscle—plants with deep flowers that honeybees can’t access.

 - Buzzing for nectar: Bumblebees are particularly good at pollinating clover, tomatoes, and raspberries. Their larger size and stronger buzz allow them to reach nectar in flowers that would otherwise be inaccessible.
 - Social insects: Bumblebees live in smaller colonies compared to honeybees but they are just as essential for a healthy garden.

How you can help: Creating a bee-friendly habitat at home by planting the right wildflowers

One of the best ways to support honeybees and bumblebees in your garden is by planting a wildflower meadow. Wildflowers provide bees with the essential nectar and pollen they need throughout the year, and planting a variety of blooms ensures they have a continuous food supply from early spring through to late autumn.

Here are some of the best wildflowers for your UK garden that will attract honeybees and bumblebees:

Early spring blooms (before the trees are fully in leaf)
 - Crocus: These cheerful, early-blooming flowers are some of the first nectar sources in spring and will attract honeybees as they emerge from hibernation.
 - Snowdrops: These delicate flowers are a great early nectar source when the weather is still chilly, offering an important food supply during the cooler months.

Summer staples (mid-spring to early autumn)
 - Foxgloves: These tall, bell-shaped flowers are loved by both honeybees and bumblebees for their abundant nectar and striking colour.
 - Lavender: This fragrant flower is a favourite for honeybees and bumblebees alike. It thrives in sunny spots and produces nectar-rich flowers.
 - Poppies: Poppies are perfect for attracting pollinators and add a splash of colour to your garden. Bees love the wide, open blooms that are rich in nectar.
 - Red clover: A fantastic bee-friendly plant, red clover provides nectar that is especially appealing to bumblebees, and it helps enrich the soil too!

Autumn blooms (late summer to autumn)
 - Asters: These late-blooming flowers provide bees with vital food as the weather begins to cool, helping them stock up for the winter months.
 - Sedum (Autumn Joy): Sedum flowers are a bee favourite in autumn, offering nectar when many other flowers have finished blooming.

Year-round plants (ideal for busy bees!)
 - Thyme: This herb attracts honeybees, bumblebees as well as many solitary bees with its small, purple flowers. It’s also perfect for adding to your cooking!
 - Dandelions: Don’t rush to pull these weeds up! Dandelions are an important early food source for bees, providing both nectar and pollen in spring.

Creating the perfect bee habitat...
In addition to planting bee-friendly flowers, there are a few other steps you can take to create the perfect habitat for honeybees and bumblebees:

1. Provide a water source Bees need water to drink, especially during the warmer months. A shallow dish or birdbath with a few stones or twigs placed inside for them to land on will provide a safe place for them to hydrate. Make sure to clean the dish regularly to avoid any harmful buildup.

2. Create shelter for bees Bees like to nest in sheltered areas, so consider leaving parts of your garden wild and undisturbed. You can also build a bee hotel (for solitary bees such as the Mason and Leafcutter) with bamboo tubes, wooden blocks with drilled holes, or hollow stems. This provides solitary bees with a safe space to lay their eggs. A bee hotel is a simple, eco-friendly way to attract and protect these pollinators. You can find ideas on how to build you own on our blog page, go and have a read!

3. Avoid pesticides One of the biggest threats to bees is the widespread use of pesticides. These chemicals can poison bees and disrupt their ability to forage and pollinate. If you need to control pests in your garden, opt for natural or organic alternatives.

Bonus tips for a bee-friendly garden...

Group flowers in clusters: Bees prefer to visit flowers in clumps rather than scattered across your garden. The more flowers you plant together, the easier it is for bees to gather nectar.
Plant in succession: To keep bees happy all year round, choose plants that bloom in different seasons, ensuring a continuous food supply.
Provide some shade: While bees love sunshine, they also need a bit of shelter from the midday heat, so create a garden with both sunny and shaded spots for them to rest.

Predators of honeybees and bumblebees in the UK
Though honeybees and bumblebees are incredibly efficient at what they do, they face numerous threats from the natural world. Predators, disease, and environmental pressures all take their toll on bee populations.

1. Hornets: The bee-snatchers
Hornets are perhaps the most well-known and dangerous predators of honeybees and bumblebees in the UK. The Asian hornet has become an increasing concern in recent years. Unlike native hornets, which also prey on bees, the Asian hornet is much more aggressive in attacking bee colonies.

 - How they hunt: Hornets actively hunt for bees, particularly honeybees, to feed their larvae. They capture bees mid-flight and tear off their heads, leaving behind a body that their larvae can consume.
 - Threat to colonies: Hornets can decimate a bee colony within days. A few hornets attacking a hive can lead to the death of hundreds of bees, which disrupts the colony’s ability to forage and defend itself. If you spot one, remember to report it on the Asian Hornet Watch App, available for Andriod or iPhone.

2. Birds: The opportunistic hunters
Birds are another natural predator of bees, although they are generally opportunistic feeders, picking off bees that they catch while flying.

 - Birds such as swallows and sparrows are known to catch bees mid-flight, particularly on sunny days when bees are active. Though birds don’t usually attack entire hives, they can certainly have an impact on local bee populations.
 - Larger predatory birds: Birds like magpies and crows may also pose a threat to bee hives. These birds will sometimes attack hives in search of food, especially during times of food scarcity. Woodpeckers are also a common pest during the cooler months.

3. Spiders: Stealthy hunters
Though spiders are often overlooked as bee predators, certain species are skilled at trapping and eating bees. Many spiders build webs near flowers or beehives and wait for an unfortunate bee to fly too close.

 - Garden spiders, such as the cross spider, can often be found in flowers or bushes, where they set up webs. When a bee gets caught in the web, the spider quickly immobilises it by injecting venom before consuming it.
 - Other web-building spiders: Certain species of orb-weaving spiders are known to set up their webs around the edges of gardens, where they can catch and feast on bees.

4. Mice and Shrews: The hive invaders
Though they are less talked about, mice and shrews are small but relentless predators of bee colonies. These creatures are often attracted to hives in winter when food is scarce.

 - Mice are notorious for sneaking into hives during the colder months. They will chew through the honeycomb to consume the honey and pollen stored by bees for winter. They can also cause damage to the hive structure itself, which can lead to the collapse of the colony.
 - Shrews are small insectivores that can find their way into beehives, where they will feed on the bees themselves. Though they don’t pose the same level of threat as hornets or birds, they can contribute to colony stress.

5. Other Insects: Predatory threats
Several other insects, though smaller in size, can also pose a threat to bees, particularly to solitary bees.

 - Dragonflies are predatory insects that feed on flying insects, including bees. Their large, fast-moving eyes help them spot their prey, which they catch mid-air with incredible precision.
 - Certain species of beetles, such as the varroa mite, can weaken bee colonies. While varroa mites don’t actively hunt bees, they attach to them and weaken them by feeding on their bodily fluids, spreading diseases in the process. There are treatments available to help combat the Varroa mite, see them here.

How bees defend themselves...

Despite their many predators, honeybees and bumblebees have a number of ways to protect themselves:
 - Defensive behaviour: Bees will sting when they feel threatened, but only as a last resort. Honeybees, in particular, will sacrifice themselves by stinging predators, as their stingers remain embedded in the skin of the attacker, killing them.
 - Hive defence: Bee colonies have a powerful defense system where worker bees will fiercely protect the hive from hornets, other insects, and even some mammals. When a hornet invades a hive, bees will swarm it, attacking it collectively until it is driven away.
 - Camouflage and hiding: Bumblebees and other solitary bees often hide in dense foliage or nests to avoid predators, and their dark, furry bodies make them harder to spot in natural surroundings.

In conclusion: A buzzing garden is a thriving garden

By taking the time to plant wildflowers and create a safe, welcoming environment, you can make your garden a haven for honeybees, bumblebees, and other pollinators. Not only will you be helping to support local wildlife, but you’ll also be rewarded with a vibrant and beautiful garden buzzing with life!

So, next time you’re tending to your garden, think about how you can create a bee paradise. Whether you’re planting nectar-rich wildflowers, avoiding harmful pesticides, or building a bee hotel, every little step helps protect these incredible creatures.