PERFECT FOR ALLOTMENTS

WHAT ARE INSECT POLLINATORS? Insects which visit fl owers and move pollen between plants, so the plants produce fruit and set seeds. Our wild plants and food crops are pollinated by many types of insects including bees and a wide range of fl ies, including hoverfl ies. Some wasps and beetles, as well as butterfl ies and moths, can also act as pollinators.

WHY ARE POLLINATORS IMPORTANT ON ALLOTMENTS? We rely on insect pollinators for the production of many crops including: beans, courgettes, squash, and fruit such as apples, pears, cherries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries, raspberries.

WHAT CAN I GROW THAT IS PERFECT FOR POLLINATORS?The following plants have been specially suggested as suitable for allotments – they are a mix of native species and traditional allotment plants. They are either non-invasive, or easy to control and in many cases are edible.

As well as those listed, it is also worth noting that many salads and vegetables will be attractive to pollinating insects if allowed to ‘bolt’ or fl ower. This may take up valuable space in the allotment but allowing a small proportion to fl ower before removal, especially if the ground is not immediately required, is a good way to help pollinators. Examples include rocket, lettuce, parsnip, leek, onion and cabbage.

HERB PLOT (when in fl ower)

FRUIT PLOT VEG PLOT

Angelica Apple Broadbean

Borage Blackberry Cardoon

Chives Blackcurrant Courgette

Dill Blueberry *Cucumber

Fennel Cherry Globe Artichoke

Hyssop Medlar Marrow

Lavender Peach *Melon

Marjoram Pear Peas

Mint Plum Runner Bean

Parsley Raspberries Squash

Rosemary Redcurrant *Tomato

Sage Strawberry

Thyme

*Indicates plants not currently on RHS Perfect for Pollinator list but should be attractive to pollinators

GREEN MANURES AND COMFREYComfrey, Red Clover, Phacelia tanacetifolia, White Clover.

Pollinating insects are in decline and need more food, more shelter and more places to nest. With over 330,000 allotments in the UK, allotment holders can make a huge contribution to pollinator conservation.

Supported by Defra

www.getbristolbuzzing.org

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND ADVICE VISIT RHS AT:www.rhs.org.uk/perfectforpollinators

NATIONAL ALLOTMENT SOCIETY:www.nsalg.org.uk/allotment-info/hens-bees-and-other-animals-bees-and-other-pollinators

Photography: Nadine Mitschunas, Becky Belfin

FLOWERS FOR CUTTING AND INTER-PLANTING (single flowered forms only) Beware: Allotment holders should be aware that some commercially produced wildflower or pollinator friendly seed mixes contain plants that spread rapidly and can become weeds on cultivated ground. The plants on the list below have been selected as allotment friendly.

*Popular companion plants for inter-planting where pests are a problem

COMMON NAME LATIN NAME*Allium Allium

Baby’s Breath Gypsophila

Bergamot Monarda didyma

Blanket Flower Gaillardia

Butterfly Flower Clarkia

Canterbury Bells Campanula medium

China Aster Callistephus chinensis

Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum

Columbine Aquilegia

Cornflower Centaurea cyanus

Dahlia Dahlia

Dame’s violet Hesperis matronalis

Foxglove Digitalis

*French Marigold Tagetes patula

Hollyhock Alcea rosea

Honesty Lunaria annua

COMMON NAME LATIN NAMEHoneywort Cerinthe major

Iceplant Sedum spectabile

Larkspur Consolida

*Marigold Calendula

Mullein Verbascum

*Nasturtium Tropaeolum

Poached egg plant Limnanthes douglasii

Cone Flower Rudbeckia

Salvia Salvia

Scabious Knautia; Scabiosa

Snapdragon Antirrhinum

Spider Flower Cleome hassleriana

Sweet William Dianthus barbatus

Wallflower Cheiranthus

Zinnia Zinnia elegans

www.cleevenursery.co.uk/plants-bees