Your berries will thrive in your garden with the introduction of one thing. Growing things like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries is common for British gardeners, and there are a number of ways to ensure your fruit grows as well as it can. One method is to introduce one item that pollinators will flock to, resulting in vibrant flowers and berry bushes that have a much better chance of thriving.
A bee hotel is something that more British gardeners are introducing into their outdoor space. A bee hotel is a specifically designed house where bees can lay their eggs and reproduce, introducing more bees to your garden. Berry bushes are one of the many plants that benefit greatly from the presence of bees. According to gardening experts at April Cultural, bees are known to pollinate raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and other fruits grown in a British garden.
At the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, co-founder of Beevive, Jake Powell, spoke to the Daily Express and explained how these bee botels work and why they are beneficial. He revealed: “It’s perfect for attracting pollinators to your garden.
“A lot of us have these manicured gardens these days where at the end of the winter we brush up all the leaves and take away the dead stems. A lot of that is a really good habitat for bees. That’s why we support the No Mow May initiative.”
He explained that the bees will be attracted to it and will then lay their eggs. He continued: “Put in a bee hotel in your garden and you’re giving back a habitat and providing a safe space to lay their eggs.
“They’ll come in, they’ll lay four females at the back and four males at the front, on average, and they’ll seal the ends off. Then at spring, the male bees come out and wait for the females. They are so clever , they’ll find it.
“You want to make sure you put it near a source of food for the bees, so nectar rich flowers and plants.”
Bees have been in rapid decline in the UK, according to Friends of the Earth. Gardeners have been encouraged to take action in their gardens by planting pollinator-friendly flowers and a wide variety of plants to maximise the chance of attracting pollinators and giving them a safe habitat.