Latest news with #RebeccaBevan
Daily Mirror
11-08-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
'Bee hotel' hack will get wildlife flocking into your garden during August
Bees are an important part of the ecosystem - and all gardeners are advised to create their own 'bee hotels' to help protect the fuzzy pollinators and attract them to your gardens Any keen gardener will welcome bees in with open arms - and here's how you can attract even more this August. It's important to help the bees thrive, by planting lots of flowers for pollination, as well as providing safe spaces for them to hide. Experts recommend wildlife lovers should consider putting up bee hotels on walls to help keep bees protected - and provide a haven for bees to live. The structure in your house and garden can provide all sorts of nooks and crannies for wildlife to make use of - especially the soft mortar between paving or bricks where mining bees can make their nests and the eaves of roofs where birds like swifts, sparrows, house martins and swallows all makes their nests, explained Rebecca Bevan, Senior National Specialist for Environmental Horticulture and author of The National Trust Book of Nature Friendly Gardening. So she urged people to not be "too quick to fill up holes or redo the mortar on an old wall" and instead consider putting up bee hotels on sunny walls. "You can also put up bird boxes on house roofs - specially designed swift ones are a good idea as swifts are having a really hard time and frequently return from winter in Africa to find their nesting sites have gone due to development," she added. Additionally, if you have bare fences, you could plant climbers and allow them to form a dense tangle that birds might be able to nest in and the expert said honeysuckle and ivy are both great choices. "Many people don't like ivy but it's fabulous for nature, providing a late source if nectar, pollen and berries. The foliage is also very glossy and evergreen and will even grow in deep shade," Rebecca noted. It comes as gardeners are urged to place a dish of water in their outdoor spaces this week as temperatures are expected to increase again in early August. The World Wildlife Foundation has highlighted that bumblebee populations are experiencing significant decline due to habitat destruction caused by multiple factors: pesticides, contamination and naturally, climate change. It comes after a warning to plant three flowers to repel wasps from coming into the garden. Bumblebees possess a fuzzy exterior which serves as protection in Britain's typically temperate weather conditions, reports the Express. However, as scorching summers become increasingly intense across the country, bumblebee communities may face additional strain, according to the WWF. This is precisely why those tending gardens are being requested to place a water container or a tray within their outdoor areas this weekend to assist bumblebees in surviving the upcoming extreme weather patterns.
The Sun
05-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Garden pro's £3 B&Q plant blooms now to the end of summer & self seeds for free flowers next year – the bees love it
GARDENING and creating outside spaces with wildlife in mind is now essential going forward. And Rebecca Bevan, who works for the National Trust - has just written a book called Nature Friendly Gardening. 3 3 3 She said: 'Even the smallest outside space contribute to a mosaic created by the gardens across the neighbourhood. "Your garden could be providing the overwintering spot for the newts that breed in your neighbours pond in Spring, while their tree is the nesting spot for the blue tits which clean your roses of aphids. 'Even if all you have is a patchy lawn, you may well be hosting a healthy population of soil-dwelling grubs, which in turn might be helping to support blackbirds or starlings. 'If it's lumpy with anthills, so much the better - ants make up the majority of the diet of the beautiful green woodpecker, which is resident in Britain all year round.' Her seven top tips for nature gardening are: PLANT A FLOWERING SHRUB OR TREE Even the tiniest tree will have more flowers on it than a whole border of small plants. It uses the empty vertical space in a garden and hopefully provides places for birds to perch or even nest. PLANT LESS POTS AND HANGING BASKETS Put more perennial plants directly into the ground. Plants growing in soil need no extra water, feed, pots or potting compost and will last for years. Rebecca's favourite Perennials include... Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) – A native plant that grows well in gardens and seeds itself around. Popular with bumblebees. B&Q is currently selling Mr Fothergill's Oh Sow Simple Foxy Mix Foxglove flower seeds. Marjoram – (Origanum vulgare) Loved by pollinating insects, tolerant of sun or shade and almost any soil and useful in salads and cooking. Lungwort – (Pulmonaria officinalis) Great in shade with attractive spotty foliage for many months and flowers in early spring which are great for bees. Sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile) Very structural plant which flowers in late summer and has seed heads that last through winter. Sea holly (Eryngium) Great for a dry, sunny spot, these lovely spiky flowers attract many insects and their long-lasting seedheads are popular with birds. CHOOSE A FEW NATIVE WILDFLOWERS Hedgerow plants like cow parsley and red campion look great in gardens where you can admire them up close and they will attract native creatures. Kate steps out for 1st time since pulling out of Ascot to meet NHS staff & plants 'Catherine's Rose' in hospital garden DITCH THE WEEDKILLERS Especially on your lawn. Every weed is a wildflower which can help boost biodiversity. Clover and daisies in lawns can also keep them greener in dry weather. Less lovely weeds can be easily removed with a handfork or patio weeder for between paving slabs. MOW YOUR LAWN LESS OFTEN Once every 3 weeks will allow the grass to get lusher and some wildflowers to bloom. STOP TAKING WASTE TO THE TIP Stop taking your garden waste to the tip. Make a compost heap to recycle the nutrients and feed your soil or just make a pile for creatures to live in. LOOK AFTER YOUR SOIL It's a complex system of micro-organisms which recycle nutrients, help keep in air and water and feed plant roots. Too much digging or trampling can hurt it so keep it covered with perennial plants and stick to the paths. Also in Veronica's Column this week... Gardening news, top tips and win a Hydria Cascade water fountain NEWS! I was honoured to be a judge on the Robert Dyas Nominate Your Community Space competition - and the winner has been revealed. Volunteers from Day Drive Community Garden in Failsworth, Manchester plan to transform an unused garage site – to provide healthy food for those without easy access to it, offer workshops to empower individuals with new skills, and create a calming social hub in an otherwise urban environment. The retailer's nationwide competition encouraged people to nominate a green community space in their local area, which had the potential to be transformed for the mental and physical health of their community. The prize was £2.5k worth of gardening equipment and was part of Robert Dyas' ongoing Plant & Pause campaign, now in its third year, which encourages the nation to garden their way to better mental health. NEWS! A new YouGov survey, commissioned by Stiga - has shown that more and more people across the UK are embracing gardening - recognising that it's a fulfilling hobby that nurtures both nature and wellbeing. The survey found that 52 per cent of female respondents enjoy interacting with wildlife such as birds and butterflies, compared to 39 per cent of men. Whilst 29 per cent of men enjoy mowing the lawn versus 17 per cent of women. And although all ages enjoy gardening - it's the over 55s who claim to get the most out of it. WIN! Two Sun Gardening readers can get their hands on a stunning Hydria Cascade water fountain. To enter visit or write to Cascade Competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. July 19, 2025. T&Cs apply JOB OF THE WEEK It's all about deadheading this week - to ensure future on tying in climbing plants. Train cucumber plants upwards and pick courgettes before they get too big and turn into marrows. For more gardening tips and news follow me @biros_and_bloom
Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Garden pro's £3 B&Q plant blooms now to the end of summer & self seeds for free flowers next year – the bees love it
BLOOMING MARVELLOUS Garden pro's £3 B&Q plant blooms now to the end of summer & self seeds for free flowers next year – the bees love it GARDENING and creating outside spaces with wildlife in mind is now essential going forward. And Rebecca Bevan, who works for the National Trust - has just written a book called Nature Friendly Gardening. 3 Rebecca Bevan and her dog Rusty - in a wildflower meadow 3 Nature Friendly Gardening by Rebecca Bevan (National Trust Books, £20) is out now 3 Foxgloves are native plants that grows well in gardens and seeds itself around. Credit: Getty She said: 'Even the smallest outside space contribute to a mosaic created by the gardens across the neighbourhood. "Your garden could be providing the overwintering spot for the newts that breed in your neighbours pond in Spring, while their tree is the nesting spot for the blue tits which clean your roses of aphids. 'Even if all you have is a patchy lawn, you may well be hosting a healthy population of soil-dwelling grubs, which in turn might be helping to support blackbirds or starlings. 'If it's lumpy with anthills, so much the better - ants make up the majority of the diet of the beautiful green woodpecker, which is resident in Britain all year round.' Her seven top tips for nature gardening are: PLANT A FLOWERING SHRUB OR TREE Even the tiniest tree will have more flowers on it than a whole border of small plants. It uses the empty vertical space in a garden and hopefully provides places for birds to perch or even nest. PLANT LESS POTS AND HANGING BASKETS Put more perennial plants directly into the ground. Plants growing in soil need no extra water, feed, pots or potting compost and will last for years. Rebecca's favourite Perennials include... Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) – A native plant that grows well in gardens and seeds itself around. Popular with bumblebees. B&Q is currently selling Mr Fothergill's Oh Sow Simple Foxy Mix Foxglove flower seeds. Marjoram – (Origanum vulgare) Loved by pollinating insects, tolerant of sun or shade and almost any soil and useful in salads and cooking. Lungwort – (Pulmonaria officinalis) Great in shade with attractive spotty foliage for many months and flowers in early spring which are great for bees. Sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile) Very structural plant which flowers in late summer and has seed heads that last through winter. Sea holly (Eryngium) Great for a dry, sunny spot, these lovely spiky flowers attract many insects and their long-lasting seedheads are popular with birds. CHOOSE A FEW NATIVE WILDFLOWERS Hedgerow plants like cow parsley and red campion look great in gardens where you can admire them up close and they will attract native creatures. Kate steps out for 1st time since pulling out of Ascot to meet NHS staff & plants 'Catherine's Rose' in hospital garden DITCH THE WEEDKILLERS Especially on your lawn. Every weed is a wildflower which can help boost biodiversity. Clover and daisies in lawns can also keep them greener in dry weather. Less lovely weeds can be easily removed with a handfork or patio weeder for between paving slabs. MOW YOUR LAWN LESS OFTEN Once every 3 weeks will allow the grass to get lusher and some wildflowers to bloom. STOP TAKING WASTE TO THE TIP Stop taking your garden waste to the tip. Make a compost heap to recycle the nutrients and feed your soil or just make a pile for creatures to live in. LOOK AFTER YOUR SOIL It's a complex system of micro-organisms which recycle nutrients, help keep in air and water and feed plant roots. Too much digging or trampling can hurt it so keep it covered with perennial plants and stick to the paths. Also in Veronica's Column this week... Gardening news, top tips and win a Hydria Cascade water fountain NEWS! I was honoured to be a judge on the Robert Dyas Nominate Your Community Space competition - and the winner has been revealed. Volunteers from Day Drive Community Garden in Failsworth, Manchester plan to transform an unused garage site – to provide healthy food for those without easy access to it, offer workshops to empower individuals with new skills, and create a calming social hub in an otherwise urban environment. The retailer's nationwide competition encouraged people to nominate a green community space in their local area, which had the potential to be transformed for the mental and physical health of their community. The prize was £2.5k worth of gardening equipment and was part of Robert Dyas' ongoing Plant & Pause campaign, now in its third year, which encourages the nation to garden their way to better mental health. NEWS! A new YouGov survey, commissioned by Stiga - has shown that more and more people across the UK are embracing gardening - recognising that it's a fulfilling hobby that nurtures both nature and wellbeing. The survey found that 52 per cent of female respondents enjoy interacting with wildlife such as birds and butterflies, compared to 39 per cent of men. Whilst 29 per cent of men enjoy mowing the lawn versus 17 per cent of women. And although all ages enjoy gardening - it's the over 55s who claim to get the most out of it. WIN! Two Sun Gardening readers can get their hands on a stunning Hydria Cascade water fountain. To enter visit or write to Cascade Competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. July 19, 2025. T&Cs apply JOB OF THE WEEK It's all about deadheading this week - to ensure future on tying in climbing plants. Train cucumber plants upwards and pick courgettes before they get too big and turn into marrows. For more gardening tips and news follow me @biros_and_bloom
The Irish Sun
05-07-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Garden pro's £3 B&Q plant blooms now to the end of summer & self seeds for free flowers next year – the bees love it
GARDENING and creating outside spaces with wildlife in mind is now essential going forward. And Rebecca Bevan, who works for the National Trust - has just written a book called 3 Rebecca Bevan and her dog Rusty - in a wildflower meadow 3 Nature Friendly Gardening by Rebecca Bevan (National Trust Books, £20) is out now 3 Foxgloves are native plants that grows well in gardens and seeds itself around. Credit: Getty She said: 'Even the smallest outside space contribute to a mosaic created by the gardens across the neighbourhood. "Your 'Even if all you have is a 'If it's lumpy with anthills, so much the better - ants make up the majority of the diet of the beautiful green woodpecker, which is resident in Britain all year round.' Read More Gardening Her seven top tips for nature gardening are: PLANT A FLOWERING SHRUB OR TREE Even the tiniest PLANT LESS POTS AND HANGING BASKETS Put more perennial plants directly into the ground. Plants growing in soil need no extra water, feed, pots or potting compost and will last for years. Rebecca's favourite Perennials include... Most read in Fabulous Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) – A native plant that grows well in gardens and seeds itself around. Popular with bumblebees. Marjoram – (Origanum vulgare) Loved by pollinating insects, tolerant of sun or shade and almost any soil and useful in salads and cooking. Lungwort – (Pulmonaria officinalis) Great in shade with attractive spotty foliage for many months and flowers in early spring which are great for bees. Sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile) Very structural plant which flowers in late summer and has seed heads that last through winter. Sea holly (Eryngium) Great for a dry, sunny spot, these lovely spiky flowers attract many insects and their long-lasting seedheads are popular with birds. CHOOSE A FEW NATIVE WILDFLOWERS Hedgerow plants like cow parsley and red campion look great in gardens where you can admire them up close and they will attract native creatures. Kate steps out for 1st time since pulling out of Ascot to meet NHS staff & plants 'Catherine's Rose' in hospital garden DITCH THE WEEDKILLERS Especially on your MOW YOUR LAWN LESS OFTEN Once every 3 weeks will allow the grass to get lusher and some wildflowers to bloom. STOP TAKING WASTE TO THE TIP Stop taking your garden waste to the tip. Make a compost heap to recycle the nutrients and feed your soil or just make a pile for creatures to live in. LOOK AFTER YOUR SOIL It's a complex system of micro-organisms which recycle nutrients, help keep in air and water and feed plant roots. Too much digging or trampling can hurt it so keep it covered with perennial plants and stick to the paths. Also in Veronica's Column this week... Gardening news, top tips and win a Hydria Cascade water fountain NEWS! I was honoured to be a judge on the Volunteers from Day Drive Community Garden in Failsworth, Manchester plan to transform an unused garage site – to provide healthy food for those without easy access to it, offer workshops to empower individuals with new skills, and create a calming social hub in an otherwise urban environment. The retailer's nationwide competition encouraged people to nominate a green community space in their local area, which had the potential to be transformed for the mental and physical health of their community. The prize was £2.5k worth of gardening equipment and was part of Robert Dyas' ongoing Plant & Pause campaign, now in its third year, which encourages the nation to garden their way to better mental health. NEWS! A new YouGov survey, commissioned by The survey found that 52 per cent of female respondents enjoy interacting with wildlife such as birds and butterflies, compared to 39 per cent of men. Whilst 29 per cent of men enjoy mowing the lawn versus 17 per cent of women. And although all ages enjoy gardening - it's the over 55s who claim to get the most out of it. WIN! Two Sun Gardening readers can get their hands on a stunning JOB OF THE WEEK It's all about deadheading this week - to ensure future on tying in climbing plants. Train cucumber plants upwards and pick courgettes before they get too big and turn into marrows. For more gardening tips and news follow me
