Beekeeping has become much
more popular in recent years and Beehives can be seen in suburban and
country gardens, and even in show gardens...
Bumble bees
Bumble bees are social
animals. They live in colonies of up to 200 worker bees.
Bumblebees are not aggressive and will not sting unless they
feel threatened. Bumblebees are important pollinators and so
it is worth making them at home in your garden.
Honey Bees
Honey
bees are under threat from viruses. Nearly all wild
honey bee colonies have dies out and so it is increasingly important to
care to bees in our own gardens. Beekeeping is a geat hobby - plus you
get to eat the honey!!!
If you are not keen to keep
your own bees, you can help the conservation of honey bees by buying
local honey - as this helps to cover the beekeepers costs.
Mason Bees
Mason bees are
solitary bees. They do not produce honey, and because they
have no honey to protect, they are not aggressive and will not sting
unless stepped on. Mason bees are important spring pollinators,
especially for fruit trees. Mason bees often live in holes in
the ground, although you can create a habitat for them in your garden
by drilling holes in wood or buying a bee habitat from a garden shop.   
Bee friendly planting choices
Good plants for a bumble
bee garden include sunflowers, foxgloves and alliums. Many of
the daisy shaped flowers such as asters and echinacea are favourites
with bees, as are willow and lime trees.
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