The Old Bank

01/08/2026

Let's keep feeding those bees 🐝 please

01/08/2026

Bees 🐝... our gardens need to keep providing plenty of flowers for them in August: lavender, coreopsis, caryopteris and scabious are all good, and extremely drought-tolerant once they're established.

31/07/2026

They're buzzy all over our new perennials: coreopsis, scabious, lavender, gaura ... Perovskia and Caryopteris in bud too, nectar bars opening soon 🙂🐝🌼

31/07/2026

Don't leave your bees to die in the August pollen and nectar gap, buy them some flowers 🙂 🐝 🌼

24/07/2026

It was like spending an hour in a fan oven yesterday afternoon, but still lovely. Lots of bees. Many going over or crisped - but having decided, We Must Have Perennials, I found these... here they come! 🦋🌼🌿

23/07/2026

Are you doing all you can for the furry fliers?

Heatwaves are becoming more frequent in the UK – and even our common bumblebees are feeling the heat ☀️🐝

New BeeWalk data shows that extreme temperatures can cause bumblebee colonies to decline and populations to shrink the following spring.

Warm weather is great for bumblebees, but not too warm. Once temperatures reach about 32°C, bumblebees can’t fly without overheating. This means they can’t collect food for themselves or their nests.

With more intense heatwaves on the horizon, some of our most cherished species could be pushed to the brink.

Read the latest insights from BeeWalk and learn how you can help support bumblebees in changing climates: https://ow.ly/JJOw50ZqFF8

21/07/2026

Whether you're heading to the coast with family, or staying closer to home, you might like these watery themed puzzles for some quality non-screen time with the kids. Or you could just hide in the bushes and surprise them with water-pistol fun 😉💦

19/07/2026

It was windy too! Luckily the bumbles can cope.

19/07/2026

It seems I wasn't the only one excited about Calamintha Nepeta arriving in yesterday's plant delivery 🐝. One of my favourite easygoing plants for pots and edging the dry border, this delicate beauty is a magnet for bumblebees - I counted about 6 homing in on the tray before I'd even had a chance to stick price labels on. It's attractive to other beneficial insects too, such as moths and hover-flies 🐝. Oh and cats 🐈