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Pollinator Friendly Plants

We all know the importance of doing our bit to encourage bees and other pollinating insects back to our gardens, and more importantly provide them with a food source; it doesn't occur to many people that pollinating flowers is actually a side benefit of what bees and other insects are about - trying to live!

It is a common misconception that any flower is 'pollinator friendly' - but in reality, like us, insects are fickle creatures and have their favourites. People also wrongly think that bees, insects and moths prefer pretty flowers to pollinate as opposed to, say, the flowers of vegetables - but that is not the case. There are many fruits and vegetables, as well as herb flowers that they all love to collect nectar from and consequently pollinate.

Bees also collect pollen to feed to their young inside the hive, and if you are lucky enough to look at the honeycomb, you will find all the different coloured pollen, stored for future grub feeding times.

What bees, and other pollinating insects, really love is diversity - a bit like we humans! So don't just grow fruit and veg and think that because they are pollinator friendly you have done 'your bit' - grow some ornamentals to bring colour and cheer to the garden or allotment (and in turn you) - and extra diversity for what should be every gardener's best friend, the honey bee. And remember that with vegetables such as Brassicas they only become 'Pollinator Friendly' when they are allowed to run to flower.