Our gardens are home to a large range of insects and bees and they play a very important role pollinating our plants.

Unfortunately, their numbers are dropping around the world due to the use of pesticides and the loss of natural habitats. There are easy ways to attract beneficial Insects and bees and they are great for the whole garden’s ecosystem as they are one of the best ways is to grow pollen and nectar rich plants.

NATURE ENGLAND has an excellent pamphlet on Wildlife on Allotments

AllotmentThe top 10 plants to attract insects and bees are:

Lavender

Dahlias

Wallflowers

Borage

Foxgloves

Cosmos

Scabious

Rudbeckia

Marigold

Marjoram

If you prefer growing fruit and vegetables bees will love them also, try french, runner and broad beans, aubergines, onions and peppers. Apples, pears, plums blackberries strawberries and raspberries are also great.

The greater variety of plant life the greater variety of bees and insects they will support.