Join our Put Pollinators First campaign, part of the 30th Anniversary celebrations of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. Every month through spring and summer we’ll be encouraging you to look after our declining pollinators, offering practical advice on doing your bit.
We’ll be getting involved at the magazine, too – our team members have made individual pledges, as have our expert panellists. Find out about the pledges we’ve made this month, below, then make your own pledges by following the link provided.
Make your September pledge here.
Join us in our pledges
Leave fallen fruit on the ground
Pledge to leave fallen fruit, such as plums and apples, on the ground rather than clear them away. Some butterflies will feed on the juices of over-ripe windfalls, so they’re a valuable food source in late summer.
Claire Gibbs, principal ecologist at Surrey Wildlife Trusts
Put pollinators first by making your pledge. It’s quick and easy.
July pledges
Take cuttings of bee-friendly plants
Pledge to take cuttings of bee-friendly plants to give to friends and neighbours, to spread nectar and pollen across the country, for as many bees as possible!
Kate Bradbury, Wildlife Editor
Look after urban pollinators
Plant lots of cosmos and California poppies in pots – not only will they add a burst of colour, but they’ll also help out any butterflies and bees visiting my flat’s balcony this summer.
Lily Middleton, gardenersworld.com Editorial Assistant
Put pollinators first, by making your pledge. It’s quick and easy.
June pledges
Nurture a nettle patch
Leave that sprawling patch of nettles at the end of the garden to its own devices. It’ll be perfect for egg-laying butterflies like small tortoiseshells. By the time I cut the nettles back in late summer to prevent them seeding, the first brood of caterpillars will have already developed.
Chris Thorogood, botanist at Oxford University Botanic Garden
Support moths
I’m going to add plants such as evening primrose, hebe, honeysuckle and buddleia that emit their scent in the evening. This should help moth populations and, as an added bonus, may also encourage bats looking for an insect meal.
Claire Gibbs, principal ecologist at Surrey Wildlife Trusts
Put pollinators first, by making your pledge – it’s quick and easy.
May pledges
Join Plantlife’s No Mow May challenge
Leave some or all of your lawn unmown during May. Let the flowers bloom and then, at the end of the month, take part in our annual Every Flower Counts citizen science survey to find out how many bees your lawn can feed. Of course, the more you leave unmown and the more flowers you have, the more bees you’ll feed!
Dr Trevor Dines, botanist, Plantlife
Add blocks of pollinator-friendly flowers
I’m going to grow another 10 types of pollinatorfriendly flowers in my garden – planted in blocks – to boost the menu on offer.
Adrian Thomas, Project Development Manager, RSPB
April pledges
If you didn’t get around to taking the pledge to help pollinators in April, there’s still time to act. Register your pledge below.
Leave dandelions to flower
“Dandelions are often regarded as weeds, but I’ll be leaving these gorgeous native wildflowers well alone, for they provide fantastic spring forage for hungry bees just emerged from hibernation. Deadhead them before the seeds release if you don’t want more next year!”
Dave Goulson, entomologist
Plant lungwort
“Lungwort, also known as pulmonaria, attracts the hairy-footed flower bee. So I’m going to plant some in my garden.”
Emma Crawforth, Gardening Editor, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine
Create a herb garden
“I’ll be planting a new herb garden, with rosemary, marjoram, sage and thyme, as all are top pollinator plants, as well as chives, whose flowers are a magnet for the red-tailed bumblebee.”
Brigit Howard, naturalist
March pledges
If you didn’t get around to taking the pledge to help pollinators in March, there’s still time to act. Register your pledge below.
Sow Pollinator Mix meadow seeds
“I’ll be sowing the free Pollinator Mix seeds that subscribers were given this month. They’ll look great and are so easy – sow in gaps in borders or near your veg to boost crop pollination.”
Emma Crawforth, Gardening Editor, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine
Create habitats for butterflies, moths and caterpillars
“I’ll add more caterpillar food plants. Why not do the same? Holly and ivy are great choices, and do leave a few nettles to thrive. Butterflies and moths lay eggs on these plants, as their caterpillars need to feed on them.”
Kate Bradbury, Wildlife Editor, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine
Make a cornfield nectar bar
“I’ll be sowing a nectar bar for bees, butterflies and hoverflies. I hope you can too – choose a sunny spot and scatter seeds of poppies, cornflowers, corn chamomile and corn marigolds.”
Dr Trevor Dines, Botanist, Plantlife
More on pollinators
Find out more about pollinators in our collection of practical projects and inspirational features.
