WHY ARE BEES IMPORTANT?
Bees are our main pollinators, pollinating a third of the food we eat and 80% of flowering plants. Pollination is crucial because many of our vegetables, fruits and the crops that feed our livestock rely on it to be fertilised, so without it, we could go hungry.
Bees pollinate a third of the food we eat and 80% of flowering plants and they produce honey!
WHICH PLANTS CAN I GROW TO HELP BEES?
If you are going to plan a “bee friendly” garden you should consider growing:
- Plants that bloom in WINTER or EARLY SPRING
- SINGLE PETAL FLOWERS offering a large platform for bees to land on
- PURPLE FLOWERS as this is a more visible colour for bees
- TUBULAR SHAPED FLOWERS are bumble bees favourite
WINTER FLOWERS
Mahonia
Ivy
Heather
SINGLE PETAL FLOWERS
Cosmos
Calendula
Single Dahlia
PURPLE FLOWERS
Lavender
Allium
Verbena bonariensis
TUBULAR SHAPE
Honeysuckle
Nasturtium
Foxglove
Wild flowers are fantastic for attracting bees and other pollinators.
To read more of Clyo’s food growing tips click here
CLYO PARECCHINI, LIVEWELL COORDINATOR
Clyo heads up Wen’s Live Well cooking and food growing courses in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Classes explore in a practical way how diet and lifestyles has an impact on the planet. Attendees learn and try new plant based recipes, spend time in the community garden and enjoy a delicious lunch.
