Search - Sitewide

that work well in a formal planting scheme. The bed of French lavender at the front of the garden was abuzz with honeybees, while the early bumblebee, Bombus pratorum, gorged on cirsium at the rear. Other plants worthy of note included Centaurea montana

lifted, sorted and freecycled, I reminded myself of the end goal: a beautiful garden where my foxglove could flower, set seed and make baby foxgloves. I imagined a sea of digitalis in years to come, alive with the sound of unseen bumblebees delving deep

I sincerely hope the current trend in the promotion of wildlife-friendly gardening continues apace. I am 50; I have gardened in this vein since first seeing Chris Baines' TV programme "Blue Tits And Bumblebees : The Making of a Wildlife Garden

warning of ‘conservation concern’. These types of decline have already been seen in more obvious (and more newsworthy) insects, such as bumblebees, butterflies and moths.One thing is clear to me though - as the industrialisation of agriculture continues

and neabours porch ive asked before for someone to take them away but nobody is interested Seen a few pollinators out, they must be warming up I saw quite a few bees in my garden a couple of days ago, bumblebees and a few honey bees, but I live in SW France

. If plants are growing indoors, open windows to encourage bumblebees to pollinate the flowers.Pick fruits when they are still shiny - dull fruits suggest seeds have started to develop and the fruit is past its best.AdamFlowers can drop if conditions are too

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

In the bright heat of this week's baking sunlight, a buzz of black and orange fur announces the arrival of what I think is one our cuddliest hoverflies. Merodon equestis is a large (12 - 15mm long), stout, bumblebee mimic, and although not quite

imported topsoil, then tried (and failed) to sow a lawn from seed.I watched the evolution of the plot from courtyard to garden as more and more creatures visited it - blue tits and great tits, a robin, blackbird, bumblebees, butterflies, moths, slugs

and dangerous prey, even the occasional heavy bumblebee.Not everything goes according to plan, though. As I watch a wasp becomes stuck against some sticky silk strands. It struggles, quite literally, for its life. The spider trots up to see what is disturbing