Bee Aware Poem by Mary Champion

There's no greater
pollinator
than the busy, buzzy bee.
Flies to flowers
and devours
nectar then, quite carelessly,

takes the pollen
it has stolen
to fertilize the plants that we
grow to feed us
and to keep us
healthy as we want to be.

Now they're saying
bees need saving,
there are fewer every year.
Without their labour
every acre
of crops will start to disappear.

Varroa mites
and pesticides
make life harder for the bees
and, furthermore,
we can't ignore
the dearth of plants on which it feeds.

 
Monoculture
makes life tougher -
not so much variety
and, it emerges,
close cut verges
means less flowers for the bee.

So save our saviour,
learn to favour
ways of farming that allow
bees to flourish,
help to nourish
this insect that's so threatened now.

Less pest control
must have a role
in giving bees the life they're due.
Do less mowing
and start growing
plants that bees are partial to.

Bluebells, heather,
borage, clover -
lavender's a special treat.
Shift your focus -
mint and crocus
full of nectar bees can eat.

 
When you attend a
garden centre
ask them what the bees like best,
or ask Alexa,
'Where's the nectar? '
And trust the bees to do the rest.