Plant early spring butterfly and bee plants to provide nectar when pollinators need it most. As the garden starts to wake from its winter slumber, one group of visitors is already on the move. Early spring is a critical time for bees and butterflies, as natural nectar sources are scarce, and the insects’ energy [...]

The post Plants for a Purpose – Early Spring Butterfly and Bee Plants appeared first on David Domoney.

By ensuring our gardens are a welcoming and safe space for wildlife, we are having a positive impact on declining populations. There are an estimated 24 million gardens in the UK. So there is plenty of space for our neighbourhoods to be packed with fluttering butterflies, humming bees and – if you’re lucky – [...]

The post How to attract wildlife into the garden appeared first on David Domoney.

I’ve been a beekeeper for approaching 10 years, and it has been an extremely rewarding practice. As a gardener, it is vital to know the importance of bees for the environment and keeping the garden healthy. Becoming a beekeeper has been such a thrill since I felt the excitement of my first [...]

The post Expert Guide: Beekeeping appeared first on David Domoney.

As much as you enjoy your garden and the produce that you grow, there are plenty of other creatures who enjoy visiting it too. Due to habitat loss in the UK, there has been a decline in British wildlife. Therefore, we must do our best to keep our gardens accessible and safe to [...]

The post How to nurture nature in your garden appeared first on David Domoney.

Going organic when growing your own requires a high level of organization and persistence. You need to keep soil fed with compost and manures, rotate crops year after year, keep a beady eye on weeds, and much more. But is all this effort worth ditching the pesticides?   What is organic [...]

The post Should my garden be Organic or Non-Organic? appeared first on David Domoney.

There are so many reasons to let dandelions grow in your garden. Firstly, they are a fantastic source of pollen and nectar for pollinators. Just before the flowers turn to the instantly recognisable cottony seedheads, you can use dandelions to make dandelion honey or syrup. Delightful dandelions Dandelions are commonly known [...]

The post Recipe: Make your own dandelion honey appeared first on David Domoney.

One of the best ways that individuals can care for bees is to plant diverse plants that flower at different points of the year to increase the length of time that pollinators have access to them. Bees are an incredibly important part of our ecosystems, with us depending on pollinators for much of [...]

The post Top plants for bees in the garden appeared first on David Domoney.

Our lawns are hotspots for biodiversity, which is why Plantlife’s campaign proposes that people avoid mowing the lawn in May. No Mow May really is as easy as it sounds…just don’t mow your lawn! But why should we leave our lawns to grow? Asking Brits to leave their grass to grow has the aim [...]

The post Take part in No Mow May to help garden wildlife appeared first on David Domoney.

When we think of poppies, we most likely think of Papaver rhoeas (field poppy) with their red, bowl-shaped flowers that is a symbol of remembrance. But there are many varieties, so find out how to grow poppies in your garden. Sowing seeds Firstly, poppies need good sunlight and loose, well-draining [...]

The post How to grow your own poppies appeared first on David Domoney.

The buzz of the bees is a welcome sound in the garden, and the sight of fluttering butterflies makes us feel good about spending time outdoors. But you don’t have to overhaul your space to encourage pollinators into your garden – instead, fill your beds and borders with plants they like. Bees can see [...]

The post Sunday Mirror article: Bring on the purple reign appeared first on David Domoney.

Transform your garden into a wildlife friendly haven and then sit back and see which creatures pay your garden a visit. It’s fascinating and there is loads to learn. So get the kids involved and find out if you can spot any of these garden guests. The ecosystem in your garden is so important, [...]

The post Garden visitors appeared first on David Domoney.

With the return of National Insect Week in 2020, we’re celebrating insects big and small and all the good they do for our garden and green spaces. Critter collaboration You and your family can get involved from the 22nd to 28th June! This [...]

The post National Insect Week 2020 appeared first on David Domoney.

Our gardens are home to a huge range of living creatures that play a very important role in pollinating. The easiest way to attract more beneficial wildlife to your garden is to grow pollen and nectar-rich plants that they love. By having a variety of their favourite blooms, you can [...]

The post Wildlife garden: Top 10 plants to attract bees and other pollinators appeared first on David Domoney.

Bumblebees are such happy little creatures to have in your garden. The buzzing sound as it sails around your garden collecting pollen is a real delight up and down the country. The bee population is declining in Britain, but you can do something to help in your own garden. Unlike honeybees, which [...]

The post How to: make a bumblebee house in your garden appeared first on David Domoney.

The preliminary results of my Great British Flower Poll 2018 are now in. The poll is in honour of British Flowers Week (18th-24th June 2018). Check out the brilliant blooms that are currently ranking in the top 5 below or take part to change the order in time for the final results (ends: 24th June). [...]

The post Great British Flower Poll 2018 – Preliminary Results appeared first on David Domoney.

Spring flowers are a welcome sight for gardeners, but even more so for pollinating insects. Bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies and many other pollinators emerge when the weather warms up, but pollen and nectar can be hard to come by. A huge number of plants rely entirely on bees and other insects [...]

The post Gardening: The Top Ten Spring Plants to Help Pollinating Insects appeared first on David Domoney.

Bees are necessary in gardens. They pollinate and bring life, playing an important role in growing all sorts of crops. Sadly, bees in the UK are under threat. So it’s down to us avid gardeners to help them out. There are ways in which we can prepare our gardens to attract bees, encouraging [...]

The post Top 10 Bee-friendly Plants appeared first on David Domoney.

Your garden could be home to some 2000 species of insect. They are working to pollinate your plants, keep pest numbers down and help the garden ecosystem thrive. Many species, including lacewings, ladybirds and solitary bees, hibernate over winter. They also need a safe, dry place to store their eggs until spring arrives. [...]

The post Wildlife garden: step by step guide to making your own insect hotel appeared first on David Domoney.

As you know, I've recently become a beekeeper! A nucleus of bees is now happy and settled into the first of my two beehives, and now a swarm has moved into the second one! I was absolutely delighted to hear that someone had spotted a swarm in need of a home! We got a phone [...]

The post Beekeeping: A new swarm has arrived in my garden beehive appeared first on David Domoney.

About a year ago, I took a 12 week course at the British Beekeepers Association in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, to learn about keeping your own bees. We have a declining bee population in the UK, and I believe it’s up to everybody to do their bit to help. And to be honest, I’d always [...]

The post Beekeeping: The day the bees moved into their new hive appeared first on David Domoney.