Country life
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Photo: Bu mblebee by Penny Frith
Gardening for
Pollinators
By Caroline Meech, Hampshire
& Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Bees buzzing around gardens are a sure sign of summer, but these fantastic
pollinators need our help to thrive in the future. It is no secret that pollinators face
many threats; insensitive land use, habitat loss and pesticides have all been linked
to declining bee numbers. But we can all do something to help by making our
gardens a little wilder.
Gardens in particular have a
special role to play. There are
approximately 15 million gardens
in the UK. Together they cover
667,000 acres – that’s an area
seven times the size of the Isle
of Wight! Our gardens have
enormous value for wildlife. Just
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www.visitilife.com
imagine the difference we can
make for pollinators by taking a
few simple wildlife-friendly steps
in our gardens.
Choosing a broad range of
flowers and growing them close
together can provide a good
supply of vital food for pollinators.
Until recent years there had been
little research into which plants
pollinators like to visit, and there’s
been a wide range of advice about
what to plant in your garden.
At the Wildlife Trust we are
occasionally asked for locally
sourced wild seeds and plants,