Butterfly Conservation slams “obsession with tidiness” in British gardens and green spaces that is “just really bad for nature”, after the public counted record low butterfly numbers this summer. But that’s not the only reason the insects are declining, it said.
See here for details!
A brand new booklet to planting for pollinators has been released and it is brimful of great ideas and top tips.
Botanic Garden’s science team has provided expert advice for a booklet detailing some of the top plants for pollinators to guide growers on what to plant throughout the year.
There are also tips on grass cutting, containers, growing from seed, from cuttings, and advice on making new plants using techniques such as layering and division.
You can find out more about the Bee Friendly scheme and download a booklet here: https://www.biodiversitywales.org.uk/Bee-Friendly
For hard copies please e-mail: NatureConservation@gov.wales
Episode 1 of this series was shown on BBC4 on 14th April, 2014 and is available on the BBC iPlayer until 8th May. If you have a slow connection I suggest you download the programme and watch later.
The programme description below is (from the iPlayer website).
“Martha Kearney’s year gets off to a bad start when unseasonal snow in spring threatens to kill the bee colonies she keeps in her garden in Suffolk. With help from a master beekeeper Martha feeds her bees and takes one of the hives to a wildflower meadow at a neighbour’s house along with two brand new hives.
She discovers the intricate hierarchy within the bee colony and learns how the organisation of the hive has become a metaphor for human society. At a London school she learns the secrets of urban bees’ success even while bees in the country as a whole are in decline. The episode ends with three new hives established on a wildflower meadow, ready to start producing classic British wildflower honey.”
Some excellent photography includes film of a queen laying eggs. Martha Kearney has as her mentor a master beekeeper and together they provides a good commentary of progress within the hive.
Well worth watching.
The Wonder of Bees with Martha Kearney – Episode 1
Please note that you can now download past editions of the 2013 Welsh Beekeeper Magazine from their new website.
Click here to access the website and download the magazines you want.
See the attached article following progress of the Pembrokeshire Beekeeping Centre in the July edition of the ‘Waitrose Weekend‘ magazine. You may also be interested in the original front page article in the March edition of the ‘Waitrose Weekend‘ magazine!
Pembrokeshire Beekeepers' Association 