With the world’s bee and beneficial insect populations in serious decline, Mr Fothergill’s is focused on producing products that will help increase these populations to help keep them pollinating our crops far into the future.

Bees and beneficial insects play an essential role as pollinators in our gardens. They transfer pollen from one flower to another, fertilising plants so they start forming fruits and seeds. Bees and other beneficial insects pollinate approximately 70 of the top 100 most popular food crops, and 80% of all flowering plants on Earth!

Unfortunately, bees and other beneficial insects are under increasing threat due to pesticides, parasites, and climate change – but we can help them by using responsible gardening practices, planting flowers to attract them and providing them with shelter.

Our large Bee & Insect Sanctuary Kit contains a wooden sanctuary and a sachet of pollinator friendly flower seeds to help attract bees and other beneficial insects to your garden. The seed mix is made up of the following varieties and covers approximately 2m2:

• Achillea (Achillea millefolium)
• Agrostemma (Agrostemma githago)
• Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
• Butterfly Bush (Oenothera lindheimeri)
• Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
• Californian Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

*Canterbury Bells (Campanula medium)

• Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
• Chrysanthemum (Chrysantheum carinatum)
• Collinsia (Collinsia grandiflora)
• Coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora)
• Chinese Forget-Me-Not (Cynoglossum amabile)
• Dianthus (Dianthus caryophyllus)
• Digitalis (Digitalis purpurea)
• Echium Dwarf (Echium plantagineum)
• Gilia (Gilia leptantha)
• Godetia (Clarkia amoena)
• Gypsophila (Gypsophila elegans)
• Hesperis (Hesperis matronalis)
• Iberis (Iberis umbellata)
• Kochia (Bassia scoparia)
• Limnanthes (Limnanthes douglasii)
• Linaria (Linaria maroccana)
• Linum (Linum grandiflorum)
• Lupin Russell (Lupinus polyphyllus)
• Lupinus (Lupinus hartwegii)
• Matthiola (Matthiola bicornis)
• Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
• Nemophila (Nemophila insignis)
• Nigella (Nigella damascena)
• Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)
• Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia)
• Reseda (Reseda odorata)
• Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
• Viscaria (Viscaria occulata)
• Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri)

This kit is most suited towards solitary bees and other beneficial insects; it is not a honey hive. The sanctuary is coated in a nontoxic lacquer/oil for protection making it weatherproof and safe for bees and beneficial insects. It is also made of FSC timber, meaning it is responsibly sourced and eco-friendly. The design includes various different areas for the insects to nest and live including bamboo pipes, timber with drilled holes and loose timber pieces behind mesh.

• Dimensions: 250mm(w) x 305mm(h) x 90mm(d)

How To Grow
To use, simply hook a piece of wire into the back loop of the sanctuary and attach to a tree trunk or branch or simply place amongst the garden.

Sowing your seeds:

Prepare the chosen area for your seeds by turning or raking the soil until you have a good crumbly consistency, removing any stones and weeds as you go.
2. Open the seed sachet and shake out the seeds thinly and evenly directly over the prepared area.
3. Gently rake over the seedbed to lightly cover the seeds.
4. Water well until the plants are established.

• Some perennial varieties may not flower until the second year.
• Once the flowers start to appear, bees and other beneficial insects will soon follow, and your garden will be a hive of activity!

Sow
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter