We are often told about plants which are good for pollinators, and in the towns and cities, we assume that it is our gardens that hold the key. But it is not our garden flowers that help the bees the most. Garden flowers can be good, but in terms of volume of food, they are limited in what they can produce. And many gardeners have to spray their plants. A large street tree on the other hand, with its spreading canopy with thousands of flowers, provides a huge amount of food – pollens and nectars, and these make for healthy bees. In our part of London we have perhaps a hundred Lime trees, some Acacias and False Acacias; avenues of Horse Chestnuts and Plane trees. A few Sweet Chestnuts and all the Sycamores that have seeded themselves and not been removed. There are also the flowering cherries, except those artificially made sterile, and all the trees that are not wind pollinated should provide insects with food. In short, it is the street trees that make London good for bees. They provide a variety of pollens – we all need a varied diet to be healthy, and they also provide quantity so the bees do not go hungry.
It is often only after the event that we realise we have lost something precious. While we have it, we do not really value it.
I am grateful that our local Council has put the needs of pollinators on their radar now. They have planted wild flower areas around the margins of the parks, under the trees. But the bees must have a little laugh about it. ‘Look up’, they would say “These brilliant trees are our real source of food”.
It is often only after the event that we realise we have lost something precious. While we have it, we do not really value it. So I want to raise awareness of the fantastic heritage of trees we have here in Chiswick and probably the whole of urban Britain before they are lost, not just to us but to local bees who depend on them. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees. So many beautiful healthy trees are being taken down by tree surgeons who have a 25 year contract with our local council. When the tree surgeons are paid per tree, there is no incentive to put the needs of the environment first. But with the enormous cost of replanting trees – at the last count on the Council website it was £419 to replant a sapling – this policy must change.
So can I ask you to keep an eye out for your local trees and protect them? Some Councils still need to realise how important our trees are for the environment. Pruning should be done AFTER they have finished flowering, and BEFORE the next year’s buds have developed. Why not reduce the lower branches of our beautiful tall trees but let their canopies spread? This will let in light to the buildings but give gentle shade from overhead on those hot summer days.
Thanks to the wide variety of nectars available to my bees here in Chiswick my honey is beautifully fragrant with such a fresh taste that you are instantly transported back to summer. Unfortunately it is only available locally so get in touch if you’d like a list of our stockists.