Planting for Pollinators

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There’s a meadow in the making on our big field. Last week the London Beekeeper’s Association planted 1200 potted wildflower plants representing 21 native species on our big field. On Friday and Saturday, volunteers first prepared the area by mowing and raking, then introduced the new plants. The team also sowed the area with the seeds of the yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor), a species which can weaken and suppress more vigorous grasses, which should help the newly planted species.

We hope the new plants with thrive and provide excellent sources of nectar for both the honeybees at Mudchute as well as the many wild bee species living on the farm. These important pollinator species are essential not only for wild flora and fauna, but also play a vital role in producing the food we eat.

Many thanks to the all of the team at the LBKA, Tesco bags of help who funded the project and all of the volunteers who helped out including corporate volunteers from NOMURA bank, Costain, Cross Rail, Neal's Yard Remedies Covent Garden.

To find out more about beekeeping, please visit the LBKA’s website. Interested in what you can do to help bees? Find out more at http://www.lbka.org.uk/forage.html