As we humans and larger animals struggle in the heat, spare a thought for the hard-working and much-loved bumblebee. In the UK, there are currently 24 species of bumblebee remaining and of these, one third are listed as conservation priority species. And this is before you factor in the hard time they’ve been having during recent heatwaves.
Yes, bumblebees like it warm but there comes a time when it’s too hot for them. Once the air temperature climbs above 28°C, a bee’s muscles generate more heat and it’s harder for them to cool down (remember that they have furry coats). If they can’t fly, they can’t forage for food. They also get their hydration from nectar. Putting down a saucer of water will be beneficial for other small creatures but no use for bees.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?
As flower growers, we don’t need reminding of the impact recent heatwaves have had on our blooms. Less blooms = less nectar-rich plants for our bees to feed on, even when they have the energy to reach them. So, aside from adapting our growing to give ourselves more resilient flowers for cutting and enjoying or selling, consider supplementing your beds and borders with flowering plants likely to be able to provide pollen and nectar for bees throughout the hottest months. At Field Gate we always grow lots of Cosmos and, provided it’s adequately watered, we have blooms from late June through to the first frosts in October or November. We deadhead to encourage more blooms but always leave plenty of flowers with an open centre for bees to access. Bees also love our Delphiniums and, again, we leave some of the stems which have opened too far for cutting, for the bees to feast on. If you have a smaller space, try incorporating pots or containers of native wildflowers on a windowsill or balcony as a small refuelling station for bees and other pollinators.
WANT TO JOIN THE BUZZ?
If you’d like to find out more about our clever bee friends and how we can help them, have a look at the work of The Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Founded by friend of The Cut Flower Podcast, Prof Dave Goulson, the Trust is a science-led conservation charity, working to create more, better-connected, high-quality habitat for bumblebees across our cities, towns and countryside. One of their initiatives is BeeWalk, a national recording scheme monitoring the abundance of bumblebees across Great Britain, fed by data from volunteers such as yourself. BeeWalk data has confirmed that higher temperatures have seen a decline in bee colonies, leading to shrinking populations the following spring.
Bee lovers young and older can also join The Buzz Club, led by the aforementioned Dave Goulson and affiliated with the University of Sussex. The Buzz Club is a citizen science club which creates experiments that help us understand the wildlife we share our gardens with, and what we can do to conserve it.
GIFTING FOR BEES (AND BEE LOVERS)
Looking for a thoughtful present for a bee-lover? Have a look at Beevive’s shop which is endorsed by the Wildlife Trusts and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, amongst others, and includes a Bee Revival kit.