Save the bumble bees

With in the last 70 years two species of bumble bee have become nationally extinct, with an additional 6 species recognised by UKBAP (UK Biodiversity Action Plan) as in need for conservation action. More and more species could become extinct unless action is taken.

Not only are bumble bees well liked but they are of great importance for ecological and economic reasons. The bumble bee is a major pollinator of a majority of the UK’s wildflowers. With out the bumble bee there would be a significant decline of many rare plants which in turn will have a knock on effect for other wildlife dependent on these plants. Many arable and horticultural crops also depend upon bumblebees for pollination.

So now that it’s clear that bumble bees should be a conservation priority, let’s see what we can do to help. No matter where you live in the UK you should be able to attract at least 6 species of Bumble Bee and in some cases as many as 10. The most important thing you can do is to provide bee friendly habitats and nesting sites, this depends greatly upon your choice of plants. The most successful are native wildflowers and cottage garden style plants. If you can, avoid exotic and annual plants such as Busy Lizzies and Begonias.

Here's a selection of products from Crocus to get you started

Annuals

Borage (Borago officinalis) Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) Californian poppy (Eschscholzia californica) Candytuft (Iberis species) China aster (Callistephus chinensis) Clarkia (Clarkia species) Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) Forget-me-not (Myosotis species) Gilia capitata Godetia (Clarkia species) Heliotrope (Heliotropium cultivars) Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) Mignonette (Reseda odorata) Nemophila menziesii, Phacelia species, Poached egg plant (Limnanthes douglasii) Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Sweet sultan (Amberboa moschata) Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

Wild flowers

Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) Burdock (Arctium lappa) Charlock (Sinapis arvensis) Chickweed (Stellaria media) Clovers (Trifolium species) Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Devil's bit scabious (Succisa pratensis) Field scabious (Knautia arvensis) Figworts (Scrophularia species) Hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) Horseshoe vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) Knapweeds (Centaurea species) Knotgrasses (Polygonum species) Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) Mallows (Malva species) Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) Meadow clary (Salvia pratensis) Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) Poppies (Papaver species) Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) Red deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) Rose bay willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium) Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) Thistles (Cirsium species) Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) Traveller's joy (Clematis vitalba) Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare) White bryony (Bryonia dioica) White melilot (Melilotus alba) Yellow melilot (M. officinalis) Yellow trefoil (Trifolium dubium)

Biennials

French honeysuckle (Hedysarum coronarium) Hollyhock - single flowered (Alcea rosea) Honesty (Lunaria annua) Honesty (Lunaria annua) Wallflower (Erysimum species) Herbaceous perennials, Agastache foeniculum, Alyssum species, Anchusa azurea, Arabis species, Aubrieta species, Bellflowers (Campanula species) Catmints (Nepeta species) Cranesbill (Geranium species) Cranesbill (Geranium species) Dahlia - single-flowered species and cultivars, Eryngium species, Fleabane (Erigeron species) Geum species, Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) Globe thistle (Echinops ritro) Golden rod (Solidago species) Gypsophila paniculata, Helenium species, Hellebores (Helleborus species) Ice plant (Sedum spectabile) Jacob's ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) Japanese anemone (Anemone × hybrida) Lambs' ears (Stachys byzantina) Leopard's bane (Doronicum species) Liatris spicata, Michaelmas daisies (Aster species) Monarda punctata, Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale) Persicaria amplexicaule, Rudbeckia species, Salvia x superba, Scabious (Scabiosa species) Sea hollies (Eryngium species) Sidalcea malviflora, Thrift (Armeria maritima) Verbena bonariensis, Veronica longifolia, White horehound (Marrubium vulgare)

Bulbs and corms

Allium species, Autumn crocus (Colchicum species) Crocus species, Fritillaries (Fritillaria species) Glory of the snow (Chionodoxa luciliae) Grape hyacinth (Muscari species) Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) Snowdrops (Galanthus species) Snowflakes (Leucojum and Acis species) Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)

Vegetables and culinary herbs

Asparagus, Brassicas left to flower, Broad bean, Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) Marjoram (Origanum species) Marrow and other cucurbits, Mint (Mentha species) Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Runner bean, Sage (Salvia officinalis) Thyme (Thymus species)

Trees and shrubs

Apple, including ornamental Malus, Barberry (Berberis species) Blackberry, Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) Box (Buxus sempervirens) Brooms (Cytisus species) Caryopteris, Ceanothus species (spring-flowering types) Cherry, including single-flowered ornamental types, Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) Christmas box (Sarcococca species) Clematis cirrhosa, Cotoneaster species, Currants, red, black, white and ornamental Ribes species, Daisy bush (Olearia species) Daphne mezereum, Dogwood (Cornus alba) Enkianthus campanulatus, Escallonia hybrids, False acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) Firethorn (Pyracantha cultivars) Fuchsia species, Gaultheria shallon, Gooseberry, Gorse (Ulex species) Hawthorns (Crataegus species) Hazel (Corylus avellana) Heather (Calluna vulgaris) Heathers (Erica species) Hebe species, Holly (Ilex aquifolium) Horse chestnuts (Aesculus species) Hypericum species, Indian bean tree (Catalpa bignonioides) Ivy (Hedera helix) Japanese quince (Chaenomeles speciosa and C. x superba) Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) Koelreuteria paniculata, Lavender (Lavandula species) Lime (Tilia species) - note Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’ nectar is sometimes harmful to bumblebees, Loganberry, Lonicera × purpusii, Mahonia aquifolium, Maples (Acer species) Mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) Orange ball buddleia (Buddleja globosa) Pear and ornamental Pyrus species, Perovskia atriplicifolia, Plums, Potentilla fruticosa, Raspberry, Rock rose (Helianthemum species) Rose - single-flowered species types (Rosa species) Snowberry (Symphoricarpos species) Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) Sweet bay (Laurus nobilis) Tetradium daniellii, Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) Weigela florida and hybrids, Willows, male forms, especially goat willow (Salix caprea)