Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2009 | Page 67

COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING
As in many cases there is more than one
problem, hives have suffered enormous losses
in the last few years, largely due to a disease

Plant more traditional native plants, such as,
geraniums and honeysuckle.
“Cut the lawn high enough to allow clover

known as ‘varroa mite’, very wet weather in

and other flowers to flower. Stop using

the spring and summer, as we suffered in 2007

herbicides and insecticides – say no to weed

and 2008 are another key factor. We cannot

and feed!”

dictate the weather, but the third major cause,

Make bee ‘nestboxes’ for solitary bees, by

is loss of habitat. Any one with a garden, even

putting up bundles of bamboo canes in sunny,

a window-box can make a difference. Island

sheltered places.

2000, based in East Cowes, are, well ahead,

Ian told me that ‘Gift to Nature’ is on a

of the game and through their ‘Gift to Nature’

mission to encourage planting more, bee

scheme, are running a campaign, to raise

friendly plants and trees in all their appropriate

awareness of the bee’s plight.

conservation si