One out of every three mouthfuls of food is dependent on pollinators – that’s bumblebees, other bees, butterflies and moths, hoverflies, other flies, beetles and wasps. As these insects move from flower to flower they move pollen between them, allowing the plant to complete their reproductive cycle and produce fruit, seeds and energy rich roots and tubers.
But there’s been a 60% decline in our flying insects over the last 20 years! Not only are there not enough flowers to provide nectar for them, those that spend time as caterpillars need vegetation to eat. If we lose our pollinators, there’ll be no strawberries, apples, peanuts, olives, carrots, pumpkins or pears.
It’s easy to take action for our pollinators, whether you don’t have a garden or are a farmer with acres of land. Even small actions can make a difference and the more we do, the more we can Get Dunsmore Buzzing!
Stuck for ideas…here are some suggestions on how you can help our pollinators.
Set up a nectar cafe by planting flowering plants for bees, butterflies and hoverflies. It doesn’t have to be a big area. If you’ve only room for a pot or a window box, that’s fine too! Find some inspiration for plants to try here
Grow a wildlife friendly herb garden. Not only will pollinators love it, you can use them in your cooking too! Our top ten herbs to grow are
Rosemary – Rosmarinus officinalis
Caraway – Carum carvi
Hyssop – Hyssopus officinalis
English lavender – Lavandula angustifolia
Common sage – Salvia officinalis
Wild thyme – Thymus polytrichus
Fennel – Foeniculum vulgare
Chives – Allium schoenoprasum
Common mint – Mentha spicata
Wild marjoram – Origanum vulgare
Have a wildflower lawn. It doesn’t need to be the whole lawn, just an area will do. Let the grass grow each year and hold off mowing until at least late July (HINT: the longer you can leave it, the more flowers can grow and set seed). When you mow it, make it a ‘high’ cut and remember to rake off the mowings. This helps to keep nutrient levels down. Lower nutrient levels in the soil means that wildflowers can grow and not be dominated by the grass. You don’t need to sow any seed, the flowers will come and each year you should see more appear.
Plant a fruit tree...or even an orchard! All that blossom will be a banquet for our pollinators and you’ll get the benefit of delicious fruit too. Look out for smaller trees and bushes which can be grown in pots on patios and balconies if your space is limited.
Room for a hedge? Or do you have farmland with miles of hedges? Our two main hedgerow species, Hawthorn and Blackthorn, are great for pollinators (and birds), but did you know that adding in Wild Cherry Plum will mean your hedge blossoms in February, perfect for those early warm days which cause pollinators to come out of hibernation and can easily starve if there’s nothing in bloom.
Have a ‘weedy’ corner in your garden. Our native butterflies and moths have evolved eating our native wild plants when in their caterpillar forms. This means that many plants we might think of as weeds are in fact different species favourite foods. Did you know the peacock butterfly caterpillars feed on nettles? Allow a few to grow in a corner and the butterflies will find them to lay their eggs on.