UK Gardeners Urged To Show 'Small Act Of Kindness' To Bees During Heatwave

Though you might think that the height of summer provides ideal weather for bees, some researchers think overheating due to climate change is linked to more bee deaths. 

Pollen-laden bees are about 2°C hotter than their baggage-free counterparts, too, meaning the creatures may adjust their foraging hours on roasting hot days.

Being too hot for too long stresses and endangers both the overall hive and individual bees. Some species seem to start foraging for water, rather than pollen, when overheated. 

And Nick Wood, a gardening expert at online garden centre Gardening Express, said that during hot summers like this one, “it’s common to see bees lying still on paths, patios or plants. 

“Many people assume they’re dead or injured, but often they’re just tired and in need of a quick energy boost.” 

How can I help a struggling bee?

Amidst what feels like endless heat waves (including the one taking place this week), Wood says that “a small act of kindness in your garden can have a big impact.” 

One way to help, the expert says, is to provide a shallow dish of water with stones or marbles inside.

This gives bees seeking cooling water a safe place to land and drink without risk of drowning.

Planting hot-weather-friendly flowers like lavender, foxgloves, echinacea, or alliums can also help, he continues, as they will make collecting pollen in the heat easier.

“Even a small container garden or window box can make a big difference” to the pollinators, whose usual far may suffer in extreme heat. 

And if you spot a heat-exhausted bee in your backyard, patio, or driveway, a drop of sugar water may help to revive them, though you should be careful with this method.

How can I make sugar water to save tired bees?

A viral post falsely attributed to David Attenborough suggested you should leave a sugar or some sugar water in your garden to revive dead bees, and was debunked by the BBC and RSPB back in 2018. 

That’s because leaving sugar water out willy-nilly may leave pollinators dependent on a false energy source that is not best for the hive. 

But if you notice an exhausted bee, yes, a carefully-measured mix of sugar and water will perk them up.

“A simple mixture of around two tablespoons of white, granulated sugar with one tablespoon of water left on a spoon or in an eggcup is helpful for hardworking bees,” the RSPB shared.

As Wood warns, you should “avoid using honey, brown sugar or artificial sweeteners” as these can be harmful to bees.

“If the bee doesn’t move after a long period or seems injured, it’s best to gently move it to a sheltered spot out of direct sunlight and away from foot traffic or predators.”