Bee Roads in the UK

[norseman]

A new initiative is being started, trialled in Yorkshire [where else ! ]. It concerns the decline of bees [ and various other flying insects in the job of pollenation ]. Intensive farming everywhere has rooted out most of the wild flowers in the countryside, leaving bees [ by that I mean all the pollinators] isolated in insect ghettos, so there can be no integration of colonies. The scheme is for farmers to plant wild flowers as borders on their arable land to facilitate passage for our flying friends. Now this is an excellent initiative which deserves our support - after all these insects pollinate most of our food crops !
Initially, there are plans for two "motorways", one north to south, and the other east to west.

On a similar tack, in my beloved dales there is an old Viking settlement called Gunnerside in Swaledale. When the Vikings first came over a thousand years back, they settled and constructed meadows beside the river to grow hay as fodder for their cattle. They also built strip fields along the south-facing side of the steep valley to grow their barley. The custom was to only cut the hay when the wild flowers had set their seed. This custom continues to this day and, during the flowering season, the meadows are a riot of colour. Just shows, the old ideas are often the best ones.

[norseman]

Just a notion. Most Garden Centres sell packets of wild flower seed. Why not buy a few for your next walk/drive out and scatter them in your favourite spot. Every little bit helps !

Great ideas! Just one thing to mention - be careful where you scatter the seeds, as they need time to 'set' in the summer and if it's a bit of land which is cut regularly, then they won't come up again the following year. Also, chose scrap, rough land - most wild flowers prefer it.

[norseman]

Enya, I ONLY wander the wilds, so no danger there. Been scattering wild flower seed and planting acorns for almost 10 years now.

[Kaere]

The only thing I would say to this would be to do some careful research about what you want to plant wildly like this. Not because I think it's a poor idea but... well, for example. Here where I live it is a very agriculturally active and sensitive area. Certain wildflowers and plants are very very invasive - there is a scentless chamomile here that will invade and take over a wheat field in a single growing season, essentially decimating the crop, and not just for the single season (which has further implications than just inconveniencing some farmers).

I think it's a great idea, I really do. I love the little bees and all the good things they do. I just think we need to be really aware of the entire picture around us before we go ahead and do things like this

[Silver]

Yes Kaere, great thinking. Maybe do the research to discover what the local bees are good at making, in demand, like here clover or orange honey and there are others, and focus on planting the most logical wildflowers for your particular area.

NORSEMAN!!! Gunnerside along with Glastonbury is my FAVOURITIST place on earth!!! thank you for bringing back some happy memories :).

I'm doing my bit too :) .. I heard about this on the radio a few days ago The new house I'm in has a couple of hawthorn trees at the bottom of the garden. I was going to dig them up and patio the area to put up a gazebo type thingy, but after watching the blue **** a couple of mornings ago I've decided against it. They love those trees! I'm planting daffs, crocus, snowdrops and bluebells making it into a little woodland area. Think it will be quite nice when it's done :). Hope that helps with the bees anyway. But ooo on a by note .. have you noticed the size of wasps and bees this year?? I think they've been working out with Arnie! lol

[Silver]

Hope that helps with the bees anyway. But ooo on a by note .. have you noticed the size of wasps and bees this year?? I think they've been working out with Arnie! lol

I wondered what that extra humming and buzzing was over this way...! Mystery solved~*

LOL SG! they're bloomin humungous!!!!!

[Silver]

I think it's to do with the climate change ~ warmer mean temps? Idk.