We don't have our usual garden tips this month as December is a busy month and our writer is very active getting ready for Christmas. We do however have a small item of interest about bees which a local person sent to us.

Bumble Bees & Nature Lovers

Dear all,
I noticed this year that my lavender had very few visitors this year compared to previous years. Below makes interesting reading,
Celia

Please read this if you have time – some of you know how I love bees and probably know that bees are the most important link in nature for providing us with our non-meat food supply, and we can all do our bit to help them. This article is from The Week, 15 November 2009.
 
‘BRITAIN’S BUMBLEBEES are in trouble, with all 25 species either extinct, endangered, or in decline. Gardeners can playa key role in saving these important pollinators.
 
· Bumblebees need nectar earlier in the year than other bees, because the queens emerge from hibernation in February. So when you are planning your garden, include early flowering plants such as clematis, crocus, rosemary and fruit tree blossom.
 
· In the Summer, grow cottage garden flowers and native wildflowers. Sages, foxgloves and thymes are all suitable. Most bedding plants have little to offer the bee.
 
· Nor do petal packed double flowers. Opt instead for  singles and semi-doubles instead.
 
· Use bee friendly pesticides in your gardens, or better still nothing at all as within the year predators will move in and create nature’s balance anyway.
 
· Provide bumblebees with a refuge. You can buy a special bumblebee nester for  £19.95 from the World Wildlife Fund (01483 426444 or www.wwf.org <http://www.wwf.org/> )
 
· Join the Bumblebee Conservation Trust – membership starts from £1 per month
www. bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk
 
 
Thanks for reading this