Research
Which plants are most important to pollinators in London's parks and gardens?
This is something we've been working on for a number of years carrying out pollinator surveys of green spaces to find out which plants attract the most pollinators.
We use a methodology developed by Sussex University Bee Research Laboratory and also used by Rosybee Plant nursery.
It basically entails timed counts of patches of flowers providing snapshots of pollinator and plant interactions. Over time these snapshots taken at monthly intervals March top September provide clues to which plants are offering the most benefit to pollinators.
We can use the information collected to advise clients on how they can improve their green spaces for pollinators by managing clipping/trimming times of shrubs, altering their choices in bedding plant displays and addition of new flowers to cater for bees that have fussy diets and or are under provisioned through existing planting schemes.
Most important plants for pollinators on green roofs
On green roofs with thin soils which dry out quickly we find plants produce less nectar than they do in deeper substrates or at ground level. This effects their attractiveness to pollinators.
Green roof plants attracting the most flower visitations are Vipers Bugloss, Kidney Vetch, Haresfoot Clover, Sedum kamtschaticum, Bristley Oxe Tongue and Hawkweeds.
Most Popular flowers in wildflower meadows
In wildflower meadow areas we find the most popular plants are often Clovers, Knapweeds, Birds Foot Trefoil, Meadow Cranesbill and Thistles.
Most popular flowers in Gardens
In gardens we find the most popular plants are usually Catmints, Salvias, Scabious, Green Alkanet, Perovskia, Calendula, Mexican Fleabane, Echinops, Borage, Fushia, Helenium's, Golden Rods and Lavenders.
which insects use which flowers
We dont just count the numbers of insects visiting the different flowers during our surveys. We also record which species of pollinator are visiting the different plants and we can collect data on whether bees are collecting nectar or pollen to gain better understanding of how insects are interacting with flowers and how we can better manage the green spaces to help pollinators thrive.
If you would like us to survey your green space hit the contact us button and lets get the conservation rolling.