Member Article

Development buzzes with bees thanks to garden design

New housing development Stapeley Gardens, built by David Wilson Homes North West has pledged its support to the region’s bee population by ensuring its show home gardens are full of bee friendly plants.

This pledge is mirrored throughout the house builder’s developments and the company works extensively with landscaper gardeners to provide the best environment possible for bees to thrive. Bees play a vital role in sustaining the planet as they pollinate a third of everything we eat. Numbers have declined in recent years, especially in the UK with its inclement weather, so it’s important to encourage their development wherever possible.

To help spread the bee-friendly message, Carol Ridgeway, sales advisor at Nantwich’s Stapeley Gardens, has put together some top tips for green fingered locals to create their own bee-friendly environment.

David Wilson Homes North West is also supporting the British Beekeepers Association, which promotes the importance of bees in the environment and is the UK’s leading organisation representing beekeepers.

Carol’s top tips

What do bees like?

From spring until early autumn bees look for pollen and nectar rich plants so the more flowering plants the better. They particularly like plants with simple open flowers, avoiding F1 Hybrids. The plants can be in borders, tubs, hanging baskets and even a window box can provide a rich source of food for bees.

Popular bee-friendly plants

• Roses
• Clematis
• Geraniums
• Cornflowers
• Lavender
• Buddleia
• Wigelia
• Fuschias
• Poppies
• Pansies
• Fruit trees
• British wild flowers

How to attract bees

• Ensure at least two plants are in flower from spring until late summer to provide food throughout the season.
• Plant bee-friendly plants in sunny places rather than in the shade.
• Look for plants at garden centres and nurseries which have either the BBKA ‘Good for Honey Bees’ or Royal Horticultural Society bee-friendly plant labels to help identify the best plants.
• Provide bees with a source of water – a pond, water feature, bird bath or even a saucer will be appreciated by thirsty bees.
• Never use pesticides on plants when they are in flower.

Stapeley Gardens, situated on London Road in Nantwich, features 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes. To find out more about the properties, visit the show home which is open Monday 12.30 - 5.30pm and Tue to Sun 10am - 5.30pm. Alternatively, visit www.dwh.co.uk/new-homes/cheshire/H460201-Stapeley-Gardens/ for more information.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Corey Kitchener .