Bee Friendly Practice

We do not just care for domestic animals.

As keen gardeners we also have an interest in promoting the health of our insect pollinators.

Bee populations are declining significantly around the world. This is a serious problem for each of us, as bees help to carry out the pollination that is so vital in producing many of the foods we eat every day.

We have joined forces with the British Bee Veterinary Association, who exist to promote awareness and education in the science of bee health, evidence-based medicine and management.

They have launched a simple, but highly effective initiative for the veterinary sector called the Bee-Friendly Practice Scheme. This is a national programme encouraging veterinary practices to plant flowering plants that will attract pollinating bees,

Their goal is to get each of the 5,321 UK veterinary practices plant up a tub or 1m2 border to sustain visiting bees and make a real difference for very little effort.

We have gone one step further and planted 80m2 of borders in our practice car park and back garden with lots of bee friendly flowering plants.

Bees need flowers all year round.

Most bees are most active from March to September, but some emerge from hibernation early in mild winters, while buff-tailed bumblebee queens will occasionally start nesting in autumn, rather than hibernating, establishing a ‘winter colony’.  For that reason, we have planted snowdrops, hellebores, winter honey suckle that flower in winter. These nectar and pollen-rich plants in that are perfect for the job.

In spring, most of our garden is in full bloom. We have planted Bluebell, Crocus, Dog Roses, Redcurrants, Blackcurrants, Gooseberries, Damsons, Forget-me-not, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Primrose, Pulmonary and Rosemary. We inherited a large Bramley Apple tree that bees love to visit in spring.

In early summer, Comfrey, Blackberries, Lupins, Phlox, Foxglove, Teasel and Thyme can be seen to flower.

And finally, in later summer, we have Buddleja, Verbena, Borage, Heather, Sage, Ivy, Viburnum and Lavender to provide nectar for those pollinators that are still on the wing, foraging for food.

Find our more about the British Bee Veterinary Association and their Bee-Friendly-Practice-Scheme by clicking this link:

British Bee Veterinary Association