Save The Bees

Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland · Suggested PostOur bees are dying out fast and a huge reason for this is the loss of their natural habitat. They've lost 97% of their grassland habitats in the past 60 years. But disaster can be averted.

Right now, people are working together to help create bee-friendly spaces all over the country - and you can too.
Simply make a donation to Friends of the Earth today and we'll send you a Bee Saver Kit, packed with everything you need to fight for our buzzy little friends.
Save Britain's bees. Donate to get your Bee Saver Kit now.
http://www.foe.co.uk/what_we_do/the_bee_cause_home_map_39371.html


WS

WS - just got an error message from the link but will check later



Lai

There was something wrong with the link Lai I got it off FB. I've found a new one, and will change the one above as well
http://www.foe.co.uk/what_we_do/the_bee_cause_home_map_39371.html

WS

WS. Signed and shared on FB and Twitter and will donate later to get my Bee saver kit.

Lai

Thanks for that WS, I have signed and shared on FB

The reason I didn't donate to this one, although it's a brilliant cause, is because I have some tubs in my garden and at the side of my house that this weekend I was oddly planning on planting some bee friendly flowers in to encourage more bees.

Also, at the front of my house their is a large grassed area and my neighbour who is a Green Keeper and trained gardner has managed to get the local council to hand over to him a stretch of the grassed area in front of our house, he regularly mows it and has planted a lovely bush and we were talking the other day and said we would like to turn it into a wild flower area to encourge the bees and insects, so that is our plan for this summer. We will buy all the flowers ourselves and do the planting, so we will be doing our bit and educating our neighbours about the importance of bees and planting suitable flowers

littlewid-x-

Rather than start a new thread I thought I would keep my postings on here as its all about trying to save the Bees.
As I said in my previous post, I was going to plant some flowers that were suitable for the Bees and hopefully the Butterflies as well. So today, I went to the garden centre and brought seeds to create some tubs full of wild flowers and all the appropriate soil. Actually it was quite easy as now they sell wild flower seeds that have all these nutrients etc in with them to help them germinate. So I have planted up some tubs that run long the side of my house and also three tubs in my back garden.
At the moment there is nothing to see as they are only seeds but I reckon in about three weeks time they will be starting to sprout. When they start to sprout I will post some pictures and then follow them through and hopefully be able to get some photographs of Bees and also hopefully some Butterflies making the most of the wild flowers. Altogether I will have 8 tubs of wild flowers, ok it's not a field but it all helps and I am excited about it and hope the Bees home in on them.
I will keep you updated.

littlewid-x-

Littlewid, that's great news and should not only look wonderful but be brilliant for the bees and butterflies. We try to do the same with bee/butterfly friendly plants, it really is so important to help these wonderful creatures.

Looking forward to updates and photos (don't forget to charge those batteries Littlewid )

Lai

It really is important to help the Bees and Butterflies Lai and I had a feeling you would be doing the same

Today I planted another lots of seeds. I have a lovely bird bath but unfortunately it turns the water a funny colour, must be the kind of iron or whatever it is, so I don't really like the birds drinking from it, so I have planted that up with wild flowers as well, it's kind of novel but I think it will look great and I will replace the water feeder for the birds.

My mum has also changed all her hanging baskets into bee friendly flowers as well, she had quite a few to do so I have helped her with all her seeds as well. She lives in Worthing whilst I am in Angmering, so between us we have set up two different areas of Bee and Butterfly friendly areas, every little helps.

Oh yes, I will make sure the batteries are charged Lai and if my silly brain forgets, I always have my phone, that is always charged. I just hope they grow quick

littlewid-x-

Littlewid and Littlewid's mum, that sounds lovely for both the bees and the butterflies, and of course they look beautiful so everyone benefits

We were looking for a bird bath on Saturday but couldn't find one we liked that was a reasonable price so might try again today.

Looking forward to your pics as the seeds grow

Lai

Have you managed to find your bird bath Lai? I must admit I haven't found one I like yet either but am off to a garden centre tomorrow so will have another look.

Well the seeds are starting to sprout, they are by no means big enough to takes photo's yet, but slowly they are emerging which is odd as they say they can take about 28 days but it was only 7 days ago that they were seeded so i'm really pleased and I am keeping my fingers crossed they do well. As soon as they are a bit taller I will start taking some pics.......with a charged camera

littlewid-x-

Littlewid, we can't find one we like, perhaps a little bit of creativity is needed, we are of what we can do.

On your seeds, it's so exciting watching little things coming up - charged camera - I love it

Lai

I looked at bird water bath today Lai and didn't see anything I liked, so I reckon I will try and be a little creative as well, not sure how but I am hoping I get some inspiration.Do let me know if you find anything Lai or come up with an alternative

Anyway, today my seedlings are popping out enough to be snapped, so I have taken a picture of one tub. Yes its a wee bit boring at the moment but it's kind of the first picture in hopefully many. I have 9 tubs on the go so hopefully it will get a lot more interesting but heres proof and my excitement that they are sprouting and they can now be seen.



littlewid-x-

Littlewid, it will be interesting to see them weekly, they'll grow so quickly now if the stays around.

Looking forward to seeing all 9 tubs ............

We are still about a bird bath .............

Lai

I wished I could get all 9 tubs together as they are doing really well but all seem to be in different stages but all growing. Anyway, here is the tub I posted last week, it's kind of the slowest tub actually but still doing really well but they all have a way to go yet.

Update again next week.

littlewid-x-

Littlewid, looking good.

Lai

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Lai

I have just added my name Lai and I hope I am not too late 

Also all my tubs of wild flower seeds are doing really well, they are all at the same stage really and you can see there is a big difference from last weeks picture.

Thanks Littlewid, and wow yes what a difference.

Lai

My wild flower seeds are doing really well and some now have flower shoots on them but I will stick with showing the original pot until I have flowers to show you but this is a huge difference to my last picture and i'm really chuffed they are growing well.

Remember I said I had planted up my old bird bath as well, well here it is doing really well too.

I am already getting an increase in Bee visitors with the other flowers in the garden so it's going to be wonderful when all these eventually flower as well.

littlewid-x-