Bees

Bees are very important for everyone. They help pollinate crops, fruit, vegetables, flowers, and trees.

Pollination is the way the male part of a flower reaches the female part to make a new flower.

But bees are in trouble and they need our help! The number of bees has gone down-because of pollution, chemicals used on crops, viruses, and more and more land being built on.

Please help the bees - Bees love gardens that are full of flowers and different plants. Plant these seeds to grow beautiful flowers, which are perfect for bees due to their rich nectar and pollen:

• Crocus
• Snowdrop
• Iris
• Lavender
• Mint
• Cornflower
• Sunflower
• Sedum
• Ivy

Jock Says: One out of every three bites of food you eat is there because of pollinators like bees, butterflies and moths! Wow!

Now watch this short BBC video explaining Why Bees So Important?.

Honey Bees

Honey bees have been sweetening our lives for 13,000 years!

Jock Says: Did you know it takes the lifetimes work of 12 honeybees to make a teaspoonful of honey!

The National Geographic also has 10 Facts About Honey Bees!. Well worth a read!

Bumble Bees

These large, hairy bees are generally black with varying degrees of yellow banding. They are very sociable creatures and live in large "families".

If you want to know more download the Bumblebee ID Guide.

Solitary Bees

What to know about wild bees please download and read the Scottish Natural Heritage's Wild Bees of Scotland (PDF) identification guide.