Two years ago this month we planted the first plants in our new nectar garden by the reception hide at Strumpshaw Fen, and now, despite the current drought conditions, its looking great and buzzing with life.
This morning I popped out to have a look and, despite the cool cloudy conditions, 3 green-veined whites and a red admiral were visiting the dame's violet and honesty flowers. Swallowtails have dropped in on most recent days, but it was the bees that grabbed my attention today. There were dozens of bumblebees, with a bewildering variety of colour patterns. In a few minutes I counted at least 10 species including the tree bumblebee. This bee is a recent arrival, first seen in the UK in 2005 and at Strumpshaw Fen in 2009, and is easily recognised by its 3-coloured pattern - ginger on the top of the thorax, white tail, black everywhere else.
The bees' flower of choice was undoubtedly chives. This popular culinary herb is a real treat for nectar-hungry bees. Perennial cornflower and thyme were also proving popular with the bumblebees, as were the white dead-nettles (one of the "unofficial" plants that found their own way into the garden).
Judging by the comments from visitors there is a huge amount of interest in helping wildlife in gardens. If you are planning your own nectar garden and want to know what plants we have found most popular, just drop us an email.