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bees, bluebottles and hoverflies, but the overwhelming majority of visitors are wasps. Both of the common species are here, Vespula vulgaris and V. germanica and most of them are males. It takes me a couple of minutes to work this out; it’s something

problem: the hazel (unlike many plants) cannot fertilise itself, so needs to find another tree. How to disseminate pollen from one tree to another? Many plants use insects — bees, wasps, moths, butterflies or ants — while others draw on the services

that some people talk to the bees. Why don't you try talking to the wasps?"Suppressing the urge to be flippant as best I could I asked her: "what should I tell the wasps?""Just tell them that you will leave them alone if they leave you alone." So, off I

-footed bee hovered briefly outside the kitchen.I've just been wandering about the garden in my shirtsleeves, feeling the real warmth of the sun catch me, and it seems that all the wildlife has just been queuing up ready for this sunshine. The trouble is, I

There's a park near me. It's a great place to escape the urban sprawl. There, I've spotted eight species of bumblebee (including a winter buff-tailed colony), plus honey, solitary and feather-footed bees. I've also seen butterflies, great spotted

more.All this is augmented with plants grown specifically to boost fertility of the soil (so obviating any need for fertilisers) and plants to encourage bees and other pollinating insects.One of the slight disadvantages is that, obviously, a forest

fungicide Dithane 945, which breaks down in the soil after a few days. Similarly Iain Barbour of JBA seed potatoes in Scotland also recommends Dithane 945 for the same reason. Copper sulphate is a poisonous substance which neither bees nor worms care

have our very own artificial rot hole.That reminds me. I had a message from a friend a few days ago. She was asking about 'bees' living in the drain outside the kitchen window. Now, I wonder...

and this is a campaign to put some of them back.I have decided to name this new pond Bradbury Water in honour of my clever, slightly frog- and bee-obsessed colleague, Kate!

. On Sunday, our ivy was abuzz with bees, wasps, hoverflies and other insects, but when this fast-food source is gone, they will still need the most basic of their primary needs - shelter. Animals coming to 'visit' flowers, or bird tables, or fat balls, is all