All the fruit and cereal we eat needs to be pollinated by bees, butterflies or ther insects. They are vitally important to life on our planet, without them we would die!
We can help them, and bring colour to our gardens.
- You need to make sure there are lots of simple flowers, full of nectar which insects eat.
- You must choose a variety of plants that flower at different times so there's always a snack available
- You need to let your grass grow long!
- Bees have good colour vision —They especially like blue, purple, violet, white and yellow flowers.
- Bee species all have different tongue lengths — you have to plant different flowers, so that all insects will have something to eat
- Butterflies and bees need clean water. You can dig a pond!
Shelter:
You will need a piece of pipe. Fill it with short sections of bamboo. Hang it from a tree: solitary bumble bees will come and stay at your hotel, and pollinate your garden!
to fill= remplir bumble bee= bourdon short: court/ courte to hang: suspendre
Food
One of the best ways of enjoying butterflies in your garden is to grow flowers that they can sip nectar from. Try planting a “buddleia”, also called a “butterfly bush”!
Peacock butterfly on buddleia
Bees and butterflies like a wide variety of plants, including weeds. You need your garden to be a little bit wild, with hedges and places to hide.
Remember, don’t use toxic anti-mosquito sprays; they willl kill the butterflies!
Now watch a video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sAAVORdzAQ