With the UK set to see more high temperatures over the summer, Chris Bonnett, founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk is sharing a simple way Brits can take care of exhausted bees struggling during this time. We’ve had some really warm weather the past few weeks and temperatures have exceeded 34°C already in London. More sun is expected this summer and while that will be music to a lot of people’s ears, it can be tough on our wildlife and ecosystem when it comes with such high temperatures and for such sustained periods of time.
As the climate continues to change, we’re likely to face more extreme heat for longer periods. That’s why it’s important to adapt to these conditions – and that includes looking after our local wildlife, especially bees, which play a vital role in supporting our ecosystem. In hot weather, bees already have to work much harder to find nectar-rich flowers in comparison to spring.
Long, foraging flights burn their energy and often leave them exhausted and dehydrated, which is why you may find a lot of them lying on the ground in the summer, trying to get their energy back.
A lot of people assume these bees are dead or injured but it’s often not the case at all and there’s actually an easy way we can help them.
Take two parts white sugar with one part water and mix together before placing some next to the bee on a spoon or a leaf. Make sure you’re not using honey, brown sugar or any artificial sweeteners as these can be harmful to bees.
You’ll also want to avoid putting the mixture directly on top of the bees as this can startle and overwhelm them.
It might take the bee a few minutes to drink the mixture, recover and regain their energy so avoid picking it up otherwise you might cause it more stress.
The bee should eventually get its energy back and fly away on its own. If it doesn’t, then you may want to pick it up and move it to a sheltered or covered spot to keep it away from foot traffic or predators.
If you want to take things a step further and really help bees this summer, go ahead and plant pollinator-friendly flowers like lavender, foxgloves, echinacea, or late-flowering alliums. These can provide vital food sources for bees.
Providing a shallow dish of water with stones or marbles inside also gives bees a safe place to land and drink without risk of drowning. Even a small container garden or window box can make a big difference.
These small acts of kindness can go a long way. Bees play a massive role in helping our natural world thrive, taking care of our gardens and food systems. So as we enjoy the sunshine, let’s continue to make sure we’re taking care of our bees too.