Pollinating London Together retweeted
Replying to @BBC
@BBC @CountryfileMag why are you demonising native wildflowers ragwort and spear thistle? Dangerously misleading information. Not illegal to grow in gardens. Vital resource for declining pollinators. No wonder people refuse to pay the license fee when you publish such DRIVEL.
Pollinating London Together retweeted
Early Bumblebee Queen out and about today #InsectThursday🐝
Pollinating London Together retweeted
Early spring flowering bulbs, such as daffodils and hyacinths, will have finished by now. So, remove the dead flower heads.
However, don’t cut down the wilting foliage, as this provides the bulb with food for it to flower next year.
Tulips will be coming through now, so make sure they have plenty of water, especially if there’s no rainfall!
This will ensure they develop straight stems and produce large flowers, giving you a fabulous spring display — amazing!
Pollinating London Together retweeted
Spring is an exciting time for gardeners, and we can't wait to get planting.
A few sunny days and blue skies, and suddenly it feels like warmer weather has fully arrived.
But here’s a gentle word of caution…
❄️ Late frosts are still a real risk in March (and even into May in parts of the UK).
Tender plants like tomatoes, courgettes, and early bedding are especially vulnerable — one cold night can undo all your hard work.
So, garden with excitement… but also with care.
Here’s how to stay one step ahead:
🧺 Cover plants overnight with fleece, cloches, or even an upturned pot
🏡 Keep tender plants in a greenhouse, cold frame, or indoors until frost risk passes
🌡️ Watch for temperatures below 5°C — that’s when damage can begin
📱 Always check the forecast — frost pockets can vary even within your garden
A key date to remember:
In much of the UK, it’s safest to plant out tender crops after the last frost — typically late May (around Chelsea Flower Show time).
The secret to great gardening isn’t just timing… it’s protecting your progress.
Stay patient now, and your garden will thank you later.
Save this reminder — it could save your plants 👇
#GardenTips #UKGardening #FrostProtection #SpringGardening #PlantCare
Pollinating London Together retweeted
Camellias looking spectacular right now? Here’s the secret to keeping them that way…
While you’re admiring those glossy leaves and beautiful blooms, your camellia is already preparing for next year’s flowers — and this is the moment that really matters.
Feed now… and you’ll be rewarded later.
Use a balanced fertiliser (like NPK 7-7-7) to support:
🌱 Strong root development as growth kicks in
🌿 Lush, healthy foliage (that signature glossy look)
🌸 Future flower bud formation for next season
And don’t forget — as blooms fade, deadhead spent flowers to keep the plant tidy and direct energy where it’s needed most.
Expert UK camellia tips:
🌸 Camellias are ericaceous plants, so they thrive in acidic soil — use rainwater where possible to avoid raising pH
🌸 Position in sheltered, partial shade — morning sun is ideal, but protect from harsh early sun that can damage buds
🌸 Keep soil consistently moist but well-drained — they dislike drying out and sitting in water
🌸 If buds drop before opening, it’s often due to inconsistent watering or late frost
Get this stage right, and you’re not just enjoying this year’s display… you’re setting up an even better one next spring 🌿
Save this tip — your camellia will thank you.
#Camellia #GardenTips #UKGardening #SpringGardening #AcidLovingPlants #GardenAdvice #GrowYourOwn
Pollinating London Together retweeted
My first Dark-edged Beefly of the year today, here in the Cotswolds. This is the earliest I've ever seen this common fly. Also, my first (native) Bluebell, Ramsons & Wood Anemone flowers of 2026 - my earliest ever wild bluebells.
Pollinating London Together retweeted
Don’t crush that ant; it could be planting a wildflower. Snowdrops have a remarkable relationship with ants. Snowdrop seeds contain a small fatty structure called an elaiosome, and this nutrient-rich coating is irresistible to ants. Ants carry the seed back to their nest as food for themselves and their young. They eat the elaiosome but discard the actual seed.
It’s called myrmecochory, which is defined as seed dispersal by ants.
The seed is then discarded, often near the ant nest, left in nutrient-rich soil, perfect for germination.
You ask why this helps Snowdrops:-
• Seeds spread away from the parent plant, which reduces competition
• Reduces competition for space and nutrients
• Seeds are planted at the ideal depth
• Protection from predators like slugs and mice
Essentially, ants are unpaid gardeners or a trade of services.
If you notice snowdrops appearing in new spots over time, especially nearby rather than far away, ants are usually responsible.
They typically move seeds only a few metres each year, creating those natural drifts seen in woodland gardens.
In woodlands or natural gardens, don’t rush to tidy seed heads too early. Allow snowdrops to set seed.
This is a plant you definitely want to go to seed!
Let nature do the planting and thank the ANTS later.
#antsinthegarden #snowdrops #snowdropflowers #snowdropgarden #snowdropseason
Pollinating London Together retweeted
Growing native plants can really boost biodiversity. The best way to help all sorts of wildlife is to create densely planted, nectar-rich spaces, with plenty of native plants – but it's okay to include some non-native garden favourites, too!
Ideas: littlegreenspace.org.uk/feat…
Pollinating London Together retweeted
Volunteers are needed to help plant London’s newest microforest! Microforests are perfect for urban spaces, as even small areas can have significant effects – from cooling urban environments to boosting biodiversity.
More: littlegreenspace.org.uk/news…
Pollinating London Together retweeted
Learn how to grow Daphne, a plant known for its beautiful scented flowers and heavenly scent, in this video.
I share essential gardening tips for planting and caring for Daphne odora, highlighting its unique qualities.
Watch now 👉 bit.ly/3Ncl33R
#gardening #garden #gardens #advice #howto #horticulture
Pollinating London Together retweeted
Neonicotinoid ban benefits insectivorous birds :)
Some good news for French birds. …
@gardenorganicuk @RSPBEngland @Natures_Voice @WriterHannahBT @_BTO @DaveGoulson
gardenorganic.org.uk/news/bi…
Pollinating London Together retweeted
We’re offering free UK shipping on all orders in our Teemill store until Sunday 🐝🎄
From personalised mugs and Santa sacks to bumblebee Christmas jumpers, we’ve got something for every stocking 🎁
Bee quick! Ends midnight on 7 December:
bumblebeeconservationteemill…
Pollinating London Together retweeted
🌿 Join us this Friday at Fordham Park (SE14 6LU) for a hands-on habitat creation day! We’ll plant native hedgerow species 🌸 like hawthorn, dog rose & honeysuckle to help bumblebees & wildlife thrive.
🕚 11am–3pm | No experience needed | Tools provided
Pollinating London Together retweeted
Together with partners, we've managed 8,510 hectares of habitat for butterflies and moths across the UK over the past year - that's equivalent to over 12,000 football pitches!
Find out more about our conservation projects 👉 butterfly-conservation.org/o…
📷: Iain H Leach
Pollinating London Together retweeted
In the last few years, we have surveyed more than 30 sites in England for the Large Heath and restored vital peatlands in Scotland with our Bog Squad. 🌱
Now, with your help, we have the chance to do more for this endangered species 👉 crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-…
📷: Iain H Leach
Pollinating London Together retweeted
Some ideas for growing mixtures of veg together to mimic natural ecosystems and get the most from your growing space. The opposite of monoculture farming!
youtu.be/-0DyF9l8WJE
#organic #growyourown #allotment
Pollinating London Together retweeted
Late week, Nikki ran bumblebee blitz days at Bexley, Lewisham, & Bromley for B.E.E. We recorded brown banded & shrill carder bumblebees. Thank you to the amazing volunteers who joined us @BumblebeeTrust & our funders #Kusuma #PenningtonsLaw #Hertitagelotteryfund
Pollinating London Together retweeted
Feeling hungry? Same 😋
But which plants are best to feed both you and the butterflies?
This #NationalAllotmentWeek, we’re celebrating the joy of growing food not just for ourselves, but for the wildlife that shares our plots too.
👉 butterfly-conservation.org/n…
Pollinating London Together retweeted
How many bumblebees have you managed to snap in a single photo? 📸🐝
This amazing photograph of bumblebees on echinacea was taken by volunteer Jane Male in her garden south Kent @BumblebeeTrust
Pollinating London Together retweeted
Lots of #pollinator discussion and a chance for visitors to meet some insects up close at today's Kew event for #BeesNeedsWeek with colleagues from @DefraGovUK and @UniofReading #BeesNeedsWeek2025





































