How can I help pollinators if I don't want to keep bees myself?

There are a lot of things that we can do as individuals to help pollinators such as bumble bees and honey bees, as well as all the multitude of solitary bees. You don't need to keep bees to help.

• Resist the urge to poison every weed. Use rock salt instead of glyphosate. Lots of weeds are a good source of nectar.
• Delay mowing lawns that have plants like clover or crocus growing through them, wait until flowering is over.
• Plant bee friendly flowers and shrubs anywhere you have either access to or permission to do so.
• Resist the temptation to kill flying insects like bumble bees and solitary bees; learn the difference between honey bees and wasps and do not kill either.
• Supply a small shallow water source in a corner of the garden.
• Where possible supply nest facilities for solitary bees and bumble bees. Encourage friends and neighbours to do likewise.
• Educate your children to appreciate nature especially the flying insects; encourage them to look for, identify and plant bee friendly plants.
• Encourage your local schools to foster a wild-life garden.
• Encourage allotment folk to reduce their pesticide burden and tolerate flowering weeds like dandelion and willow herb until after pollination. They can be deadheaded before they cast seed.
• Encourage local authorities to reclaim waste ground and plant meadow flowers.
• Plant window boxes with pollinator friendly plants.