Bees from the hive at Riverside Garden Centre

Bees in particular are seldom out of the news, mainly due to the impact of environmental change and the increasing use of certain insecticides and in recent years Bristol has gained a reputation in being at the forefront of studies into pollination through the ‘Get Bristol Buzzing’ initiative and ‘Urban Pollinators’ project.
A recent study of bumblebees, the largest ever conducted in the UK, found that by increasing the number of spring-flowering plants, shrubs and trees, combined with a good range of summer flowers in gardens and hedgerows, bumblebee survival rates are improved by up to four times. The message is a simple one: by tending our gardens, we all have a part to play in increasing insect diversity and survival. 

Here's some of our latest Blog articles about Bees:

Bee friendly bedding plants

A new queen bee for 2017
 

Plants for butterflies

Butterflies, moths and beetles are the unsung heroes when it comes to pollination of plants, but like bees, they too play a significant role when it comes to the pollination of wildflowers in particular, helping to maintain the health of our environment. Butterflies and moths are eye-catching garden visitors, but they need our help as some once common species are under threat. If you have space, why not plant your own wildflower ‘meadow’. We sell a wide range of wildflowers plants which are ready to pop straight into your garden, not only brightening a forgotten corner but also attracting a wide range of insects. If you don't have room for a meadow then you can always choose one or two species to include in your garden.

Read more from our Blog article:
http://riversidegardencentre.com/blog/attracting-butterflies-to-your-garden

Plants for hoverflies

Humble hoverflies are just a few of the myriad of tiny creatures, often overshadowed by their bee cousins, which also ensure successful pollination. Like bees, there are approximately 270 species of hoverfly in the UK and many are beautiful, slender-bodied creatures with a single pair of gossamer wings. All have poor defence mechanisms, relying on their speed and agility to escape from predators. Some mimic other insects by having similar colouring or markings. 

Our knowledgeable staff are ready and waiting to answer your questions and give advice about how to choose, plant and care for all varieties of plants – especially species that will encourage and support pollinating creatures.

In our Shop we sell a range of products aimed at attracting pollinators to your garden. ‘Bug hotels’ - made of wood, fitted with bamboo tubes to provide a safe home for solitary bees, ladybirds and hoverflies. Wildflower seeds to encourage diverse insect life - packets of single species, or boxes containing specific mixes, such as the Thompson and Morgan ‘Wildflower Patch’ range and the Sarah Raven ‘Brilliant for Bees and Butterflies’ collection in particular. If you are searching for information on bees and bugs, take a look in our book shelf.
 

The Riverside bee hive

We have our own colony of honeybees here at Riverside. The hive is situated at the top of the Garden Centre, close to our Aquatics section, so take a look when you next visit us. Over the past few years, the bees have rewarded us with good quantities of delicious honey which we sell in our Café during September.

Honey lovers please note…when it’s gone – it’s gone!

The hive is managed by our resident beekeepers, John and Beverley who check that all is well with our bees on a weekly basis during the summer months, so if you have any questions, please seek out either beekeeper, or better still, pay us a visit when a hive inspection is taking place. When we have something of note to report, we post a ‘Bee Blog’ on our website.

If you wish to know more about local and national pollination projects, take a look at the following links:
www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/getbristolbuzzing
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0317/150317-Survival-of-bumblebee-families
www.bristol.ac.uk/biology/research/ecological/community/pollinators/