Nature notes: Bumblebees thrive in towns more than in the country

In the news this week it was revealed that bumblebees are now faring better in towns and cities than in fields. Researchers from Royal Holloway discovered that city colonies are producing more males and queens (or gynes) than rural colonies as well as more worker bees.

Factors that could be aiding bees to thrive include less exposure to pesticides and more availability of flowering plants throughout the year. 

So good news for urban bees, if not for rural bees.

Tree bumblebee and honey bee (and fly friend) enjoy bramble flowers in Railway Fields

This extended hot weather will take its toll on bees however, so it's important to keep the nectar flowing by watering flowers, including those in street planters or in tree pit gardens.

We can also help bees we find in trouble quite easily.

This week as I was leading a group of year 1s at Railway Fields we found an exhausted  bee lying on the path. It was raising its front leg in a sort of "high five" move that indicates distress. I scooped it up in my insect pot, carried it to a large, flowering teasel and placed it on top. After a couple of minutes, we checked back and it was crawling around the flower, feeding. 

Another method of reviving a bee is to give it a solution of one spoonful of water to two of sugar. Drop the sugar and water solution onto a paper towel in small amounts or place in a clean milk bottle lid. Leave it by the bee's head. After drinking it should eventually recover, although if it is suffering from parasites there will be little else you can do.

If you have neither flowers nor sugar to hand, moving it out of danger may be enough to give it time to rest.

For more about how to make your gardens bumblebee friendly see The Bumblebee Conservation Trust website.

Although sometimes, leaving Nature to its own devices will provide just the food they need.

Creeping thistle under a street tree in Warham Road