Warning to anyone who still has bees in their garden this winter

They’re always buzzing around in summer, working hard to collect nectar and land on our picnics, but bees aren’t just for summer. In fact, the humble bumble and its less fuzzy honeybee brothers are still alive and still vital to our gardens even at this time of year, when sunshine gives way to ice, snow and Met Office weather warnings. And now, wildlife experts are urging gardeners to be aware of bees in their garden if they still see them buzzing about.

That’s because of the vital role bees play in gardens, even in the colder winter months. There are several things gardeners should be doing if they spot bees in their gardens , according to nature aficionados Plantura. They say that honeybees are able to return to their hives in winter , but wild bees lack natural shelter and will often search for spots in your garden to hibernate instead.



But our very controlled way of gardening can often cause problems, as gardeners clear away leaves, tidy up fallen branches and generally clean away all the places bees like to stash themselves in for winter. Gardeners are now being asked to ‘skip autumn pruning’ to allow bees to hide in tree branches instead, as well as consider installing items to help bees out such as a bee hotel. Plantura said: “Bees are arguably the best-known and readily supported beneficial insects in our gardens.

“Many bees depend on the help of humans in winter. While honeybees can return to their hives, wild bees often lack natural shelter. You may want to consider skipping autumn pruning, as doing so provides refuge for the many wild bee species that hibernate in hollow stems of faded perennials or dead wood.

“Insect hotels are also suitable for winter shelter in the garden. When putting an insect hotel in your garden, choose a place that is as protected from the wind as possible. “To find out whether you have tenants, check for individual passages inside the insect hotel that are sealed up.

The insects like to wall themselves into their dwellings. Growing ivy (Hedera helix) in your garden helps too. With its late flowering time, ivy is ideal for offering wild bees a last feast before the exhausting winter.

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