Scientists say the best thing to help bees survive, is to try to limit the destruction of bee habitats, the characteristic places where bees thrive. Bee habitats which contain a rich biodiversity enable the bees to feed on wide variety of shrub and tree blossoms and wild flowers so that they build up strong immune systems that protect them against viruses and disease.
Each bee meadow is planted with a selection of organically sourced seed which provides a continuous display of nectar from pollen-rich legumes and wildflowers guaranteeing a rewarding honey harvest. A good early Autumn range of flowers helps the bees build up their honey stocks for the Winter.
At three weeks.
A bee is said to make three journeys in order to bring one drop of nectar to the hive; 25,000 foraging trips are said to be necessary to gather the raw material for one pound of honey.
A honeybee will visit 50 to 100 flowers during a collection trip, and a hive of bees will fly 90,000 miles to collect 1 kg of honey. During the average worker bee's lifetime, she will produce only about 1/12th teaspoon of honey and it takes one ounce of honey to fuel a bees' flight around the world.
At six weeks.
We're giving the bees a hand by planting flowers, trees and bushes that will make these trips easier, and provide all the nectar they need to create a thriving, healthy, productive hive.
Some flowers produce more nectar than others, others are great honey flowers, and some just intoxicate the bees. We have chosen a variety of plants that flower at different times so there is always a snack available when bees are out and about.
A selection of what's we plant:
Weeding at magic hour.