Bee Friendly Kenilworth

29/10/2026

I'm still seeing bumblebees - are you? And on what plants?
In my garden the verbena bonarensis and clematis are most popular currently. Also the flowering ivy that I see on walks has lots of pollinators still, especially on a sunny day.
There is still time to plant spring flowering bulbs like crocus and snowdrops.
Try to plant so that you have something in flower year round. Leave the dead seed heads. This helps pollinators and birds.

Bumblebees and plants have evolved to develop their own special ways of getting what they need from the other to survive 🌼🐝

Bumblebees get all their food (nectar and pollen) from plants. Plants need bumblebees to spread pollen and fertilise their flowers (we call this pollination) so they can produce seeds. Did you know:

🌷 Plants produce colourful flowers to attract bumblebees to them.

🐝 Bumblebees can fly to search for flowers across gardens and the wider countryside.

🪻 Plants create nectar in special structures called nectaries to reward bumblebees for visiting their flowers.

🐝 Bumblebees have evolved long tongues to reach these nectaries so they can feed from a wide variety of flowers.

🌻 Plants decorate their petals with patterns designed to guide bumblebees to the nectar.

🐝 Bumblebees have ultraviolet vision – they see where nectar is by following the petal patterns.

🌺 Plants produce lots of pollen and arrange it in places that will ensure a bumblebee gets covered when drinking nectar.

🐝 Bumblebees have thick fur and their hairs are branched at the tips – perfect for getting covered in tiny pollen grains!

What have you noticed about bumblebees and flowers? Have your local bumblebees had a favourite plant this year?

28/10/2026

We had a busy afternoon planting bulbs along the footpath from School Lane down to the brook.
WDC supplied the daffodils and crocus and we provided the labour. Our volunteers included KTC councillors Alix Dearing and James Kennedy.
Thanks to the biodiversity and green spaces teams at WDC for their support.

27/09/2026

Have you seen this?
Are toxic chemicals near you?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002zkqq/buried-with-michael-sheen-series-1-episode-1?fbclid=IwdGRjcAUlypRjbGNrBSXKeWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHBkb2YBc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEehrT6l-wJ1_erohQg8QlcPpY8y4gwUX0VG1UQ0V2X84HbzfQsxXpu9Dy7cME_aem_RuXzUdgylnveaTcJ4PuunA

Haunted by a dying man’s warning, Michael Sheen explores claims that chemicals have contaminated land in Wales and England. He follows a toxic trail to ask: who’s in danger now?

06/09/2026

Everyone should see this. Please share.

UK intelligence services say nature loss is a national security threat – and loss of pollinators like bumblebees is a major threat to UK food production.

Yesterday the UK Government’s National Security Assessment on Global Biodiversity Loss and Ecosystem Collapse was finally debated by MPs.

The report, which was only released following a freedom of information request earlier this year, states: “Nature is a foundation of national security. Biodiversity loss is putting at risk the ecosystem services on which human societies depend, including water, food, clean air and critical resources.”

We are grateful to all the MPs who stood up in unanimous support for increased and better coordinated government action, and to Sarah D**e MP for speaking up for the rare Shrill carder bumblebee whilst setting out how farming and planning policies must do more for nature and climate.

We especially want to see:
🐝 More urgent and ambitious action for pollinator recovery and habitat restoration.
🌼 Increased support for nature-friendly farming and the restoration of flower-rich habitats.
🌍 Ambitious nature and climate recovery action embedded in policies on planning, farming, infrastructure, health and the economy.

It’s time for action on nature recovery and climate change to be treated as a whole-of-government priority, not a side issue.

29/08/2026

Did you know we have community gardeners in Kenilworth? Check out theplanters on Station Road.

Download your FREE guide now!

Inspired by the experiences of over 400 community growing projects supported by Grow Wild, our new guide helps you take the first steps to set up and run your own community growing project.

From setting up your project, to telling its story, we hope this guide will inspire and encourage you to get growing with your community.

Download a copy today and grow your project from the ground up!

🔗https://growwild.kew.org/GW-Guide

29/08/2026

Interesting to see the work WkWT is doing with local farms

126,000 metres of hedgerow managed for wildlife, thanks to our agriculture team supporting farmers across the county to access funding

Our agricultural advice team have been working hard with our three Sustainable Farm Groups. Over 150 farmers make up these groups and they farm nearly 20% of the farmable area in Warwickshire.

Activities and events have included:
🌳free tree collection and planting advice
🐦farmland bird ringing
🌱soil health assessment
🚜 farming without glycophosphate
🌍climate change adaptation
🧪bio stimulants and freshwater

To read more about our sustainable farm groups and to join your local:

https://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/warwickshires-sustainable-farming-groups

29/08/2026

Have you seen the new Queens?

29/08/2026

Please read the link.

https://www.buglife.org.uk/campaigns/veterinary-medicines/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAT_fC1jbGNrBP979HBkb2YBZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEeeMmK5JNjrzx5kGrZVN56nkmFY1Dyrpn0O_NzCVEgr4-sWYzKAPhPwVbTIV0_aem_MkjlSDzpiWSV90FhZCjyrg

Generally, when we think of pesticides, we picture crops being sprayed and other outdoor, agricultural or horticultural scenarios. However, pesticides banned in outdoor agricultural use because of the harm they cause in the natural environment, are commonly used for tick and flea treatments on pet c...

29/08/2026

Insects are declining and having an effect on the food chain.
If you have a dog please limit their contact with our waterways - especially after a recent flea treatment.

04/08/2026

Blackberries don't just feed us but many pollinators.

💙 How to create a flourishing garden full of life - even in a drought 💙

Today we’ll talk about brambles. Their deep roots make them drought tolerant. Which is good news, because….

Brambles are wonderful for pollinators - bramble flowers feed many bees and butterflies including the holly blue butterfly, speckled wood butterfly, and gatekeeper butterfly.

Bramble flowers also feed the Eurasian bee beetle and thick-legged flower beetle.

Nearly ONE HUNDRED moth species use brambles as a food plant, including the scarlet tiger moth, swallow-tailed moth, and buff ermine moth.

Brambles dense thorny stems offer cool shelter for many small mammals, including hedgehogs and mice. They also provide nest sites for many garden birds including dunnocks, song thrushes and yellow hammers.

The blackberries are tasty food for lots of garden birds and mammals over late summer and autumn. And of course tasty free food for you.

You can allow a decent patch to establish - just remember to go out occasionally, and chop any runners if you don’t want it to get bigger.