#ukheatwaves — Public Fediverse posts

#Bumblebees are struggling in #UKHeatwaves - but you can help them

Justin Rowlatt, July 21, 2026

Excerpt: "Conservationists say the best way to help is by creating more flower-rich habitats, so bumblebees can find food even as the climate becomes more extreme.

"Dr Sarah Beynon is an insect expert whose west Wales farm is managed for wildlife as well as food. She has planted #meadows, #willows, #hedgerows, #TussockyGrasses and late-flowering crops to give insects food through the summer.

" 'When we came, this farm was a wildlife desert,' she says. 'In 10 years, it's become a nature reserve.'

"Her message is that people do not need acres of land to help. A pot of native wildflowers on a doorstep or windowsill can act as a small refuelling stop for insects moving through a human-dominated landscape.

" 'Your flowerpot is a service station,' she says. 'It's somewhere to rest, refuel and carry on.'

"Dr Richard Comont adds that putting in a pond [#BeeWateringStation] - however small - and shade can also help.

"#Flowers growing near water tend to produce nectar with more moisture in it, he says. Bumblebees cannot collect water in the way honeybees do, they get most of the liquid they need from nectar, so wetter nectar can help make colonies more resilient in hot weather.
Whilst planting dense #shrubs gives bumblebees places to escape the heat of the sun, and can allow them to move between flowers through cooler patches of air."

Learn more:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c141lymnl2yo

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/AbQwI

#SolarPunkSunday #SaveTheBees #MoreFlowers #GardeningForPollinators #ClimateChange #Heatwaves

#Bumblebees are struggling in #UKHeatwaves - but you can help them

Justin Rowlatt, July 21, 2026

Excerpt: "Conservationists say the best way to help is by creating more flower-rich habitats, so bumblebees can find food even as the climate becomes more extreme.

"Dr Sarah Beynon is an insect expert whose west Wales farm is managed for wildlife as well as food. She has planted #meadows, #willows, #hedgerows, #TussockyGrasses and late-flowering crops to give insects food through the summer.

" 'When we came, this farm was a wildlife desert,' she says. 'In 10 years, it's become a nature reserve.'

"Her message is that people do not need acres of land to help. A pot of native wildflowers on a doorstep or windowsill can act as a small refuelling stop for insects moving through a human-dominated landscape.

" 'Your flowerpot is a service station,' she says. 'It's somewhere to rest, refuel and carry on.'

"Dr Richard Comont adds that putting in a pond [#BeeWateringStation] - however small - and shade can also help.

"#Flowers growing near water tend to produce nectar with more moisture in it, he says. Bumblebees cannot collect water in the way honeybees do, they get most of the liquid they need from nectar, so wetter nectar can help make colonies more resilient in hot weather.
Whilst planting dense #shrubs gives bumblebees places to escape the heat of the sun, and can allow them to move between flowers through cooler patches of air."

Learn more:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c141lymnl2yo

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/AbQwI

#SolarPunkSunday #SaveTheBees #MoreFlowers #GardeningForPollinators #ClimateChange #Heatwaves

#Bumblebees are struggling in #UKHeatwaves - but you can help them

Justin Rowlatt, July 21, 2026

Excerpt: "Conservationists say the best way to help is by creating more flower-rich habitats, so bumblebees can find food even as the climate becomes more extreme.

"Dr Sarah Beynon is an insect expert whose west Wales farm is managed for wildlife as well as food. She has planted #meadows, #willows, #hedgerows, #TussockyGrasses and late-flowering crops to give insects food through the summer.

" 'When we came, this farm was a wildlife desert,' she says. 'In 10 years, it's become a nature reserve.'

"Her message is that people do not need acres of land to help. A pot of native wildflowers on a doorstep or windowsill can act as a small refuelling stop for insects moving through a human-dominated landscape.

" 'Your flowerpot is a service station,' she says. 'It's somewhere to rest, refuel and carry on.'

"Dr Richard Comont adds that putting in a pond [#BeeWateringStation] - however small - and shade can also help.

"#Flowers growing near water tend to produce nectar with more moisture in it, he says. Bumblebees cannot collect water in the way honeybees do, they get most of the liquid they need from nectar, so wetter nectar can help make colonies more resilient in hot weather.
Whilst planting dense #shrubs gives bumblebees places to escape the heat of the sun, and can allow them to move between flowers through cooler patches of air."

Learn more:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c141lymnl2yo

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/AbQwI

#SolarPunkSunday #SaveTheBees #MoreFlowers #GardeningForPollinators #ClimateChange #Heatwaves

#Bumblebees are struggling in #UKHeatwaves - but you can help them

Justin Rowlatt, July 21, 2026

Excerpt: "Conservationists say the best way to help is by creating more flower-rich habitats, so bumblebees can find food even as the climate becomes more extreme.

"Dr Sarah Beynon is an insect expert whose west Wales farm is managed for wildlife as well as food. She has planted #meadows, #willows, #hedgerows, #TussockyGrasses and late-flowering crops to give insects food through the summer.

" 'When we came, this farm was a wildlife desert,' she says. 'In 10 years, it's become a nature reserve.'

"Her message is that people do not need acres of land to help. A pot of native wildflowers on a doorstep or windowsill can act as a small refuelling stop for insects moving through a human-dominated landscape.

" 'Your flowerpot is a service station,' she says. 'It's somewhere to rest, refuel and carry on.'

"Dr Richard Comont adds that putting in a pond [#BeeWateringStation] - however small - and shade can also help.

"#Flowers growing near water tend to produce nectar with more moisture in it, he says. Bumblebees cannot collect water in the way honeybees do, they get most of the liquid they need from nectar, so wetter nectar can help make colonies more resilient in hot weather.
Whilst planting dense #shrubs gives bumblebees places to escape the heat of the sun, and can allow them to move between flowers through cooler patches of air."

Learn more:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c141lymnl2yo

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/AbQwI

#SolarPunkSunday #SaveTheBees #MoreFlowers #GardeningForPollinators #ClimateChange #Heatwaves

#Bumblebees are struggling in #UKHeatwaves - but you can help them

Justin Rowlatt, July 21, 2026

Excerpt: "Conservationists say the best way to help is by creating more flower-rich habitats, so bumblebees can find food even as the climate becomes more extreme.

"Dr Sarah Beynon is an insect expert whose west Wales farm is managed for wildlife as well as food. She has planted #meadows, #willows, #hedgerows, #TussockyGrasses and late-flowering crops to give insects food through the summer.

" 'When we came, this farm was a wildlife desert,' she says. 'In 10 years, it's become a nature reserve.'

"Her message is that people do not need acres of land to help. A pot of native wildflowers on a doorstep or windowsill can act as a small refuelling stop for insects moving through a human-dominated landscape.

" 'Your flowerpot is a service station,' she says. 'It's somewhere to rest, refuel and carry on.'

"Dr Richard Comont adds that putting in a pond [#BeeWateringStation] - however small - and shade can also help.

"#Flowers growing near water tend to produce nectar with more moisture in it, he says. Bumblebees cannot collect water in the way honeybees do, they get most of the liquid they need from nectar, so wetter nectar can help make colonies more resilient in hot weather.
Whilst planting dense #shrubs gives bumblebees places to escape the heat of the sun, and can allow them to move between flowers through cooler patches of air."

Learn more:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c141lymnl2yo

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/AbQwI

#SolarPunkSunday #SaveTheBees #MoreFlowers #GardeningForPollinators #ClimateChange #Heatwaves