For Bees to have access to enough plant nectar

I agree we do need to do a lot to help our bees. We could also grow single open flowers instead of all the doubles that are nectar and pollen poor.

Totally agree Dianne I've noticed a reduction in bees over the last few years in the local vicinity and my garden. My Sister keeps bees also, as for myself I never use anything in my garden that's not an environmentally friendly product.

I whole heartedly agree Diane!

I think we all try our best, but are fighting a losing battle when the farmers spread so much bug spray on the fields.

The following agrochemicals are used on oilseed rape in the UK, however, the chemicals involved are also used on other arable crops also:

Fungicides

Carbendazim
Flusilazole
Iprodione
Iprodione/thiophanate methyl
Maneb
Prochloraz
Sulphur
Tebuconazole
Vinclozolin
Insecticides

Alpha-cypermethrin
Cypermethrin
Deltamethrin
Fenvalerate
Triazophos
Herbicides & Desiccants

Disquat
Glyphosate
Glufosinate
Glufosinate ammonium

We leave patches of nettles for the butterflies to lay eggs on, dead nettles (till they have finished flowering) for the bees and we have hawthorn, fruit and other flowering trees as well as the flowers. Trying to create a haven for insects and birds in the barren fields around us!

So true, Diane!

I am delighted to notice a lot of solitary bees in the garden this year. A lot are nesting in the leaf litter along the bottom of one of the garden walls. We have had bumble bee nests in the eaves at the front for the last three years - haven't noticed any yet this year. The next door neighbour was perturbed, but they caused us no inconvenience whatsoever. At first, we thought the gentle hum we could hear in one of the bedrooms was electrical! The nest doesn't last very long, just a couple of months, less time than a wasps' nest (I can't honestly recommend one of those, we've had three or four and although we had no stings, wasps have a nasty habit of losing their way and entering the house)