Archive
POLLINATOR POP
04/06/2021
Most of the greenspace sites we manage are in urban or suburban areas: they have been laid out and planted by landscapers before our involvement and, although landscaping schemes have moved a little towards native planting and consideration of biodiversity, most follow a traditional horticultural paradigm that prioritises ground-cover and low upkeep intermixed with a few reliably-flowering garden shrubs attractive to humans but not necessarily pollinating invertebrates.
Invertebrates, as most of us know, are in serious trouble, with alarming declines in numbers of individuals and species, so at Betts we see it as a primary duty to ensure the plantings on our sites help to reverse the situation so that bees and the many other pollinating species, that are so vital in healthy natural food chains, thrive. A part of this is to explain to human users of greenspace that “weeds” are important, but also to find plants that benefit invertebrate populations but are also popular with people. It is the latter challenge that I want to write briefly about here.
Some plants beloved of pollinators can be a nuisance in greenspace. The butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii is an example because it is so invasive (although some varieties that do not spread all over the place are now available) and it is rather useless as a larval foodplant. Rhododendron, which even has toxic pollen, is another, and caution is needed with the ubiquitous ground-cover shrub Cotoneaster horizontalis (right), the flowers of which bees adore, so we do keep it but where appropriate, but it is invasive. Another landscapers’ favourite, Wilson’s honeysuckle Lonicera nitida rarely flowers, has little to recommend it ecologically and, other than evergreen shelter or perhaps nest sites for birds, is of minimal biodiversity worth.
Betts Ecology have developed a long list of plants, not all native although those are favoured, but suitable for urban and semi-urban plantings that are good for pollinators and other wildlife, and with gloriously showy flowers. We introduce them in suitable places, always taking into account soil physics and chemistry, aspect and insolation to ensure good growth and flowering. Here are a few of the common shrubs and sub-shrubs that benefit pollinators (N = native to Britain): apples and fruit trees generally, Belgian honeysuckle, Christmas box, dogwood N, elder N, guelder-rose N, heather N, ivy N, lavender, lilac, Pyracantha, roses (single), Weigela.
Don’t forget, for gardening with wildlife in mind and details of native plants, you can ask one of our grounds staff for a free copy of my wildlife gardening book In Horto Feritas, or you can download it, again for free, from https://bit.ly/Betts-downloads.
© Betts Ecology
