Bee '˜glamping pods' help caravan park boost wildlife

Moss Wood caravan park in Cockerham transformed a large corner of its dog exercise area into a ‘bee buffet’.

They choose wild blooms with a high pollen count and are now attracting bees and butterflies to the leafy spot.

And they have even created bee ‘glamping pods’: hardwood logs bored with tiny holes for solitary bees to make cells of nests for their larvae.

The caravan park’s eco initiatives to protect the natural environment led to its being presented once again this year with the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

Moss Wood’s latest bee-friendly move was made in response to a call by Professor Bellamy for parks to step-up their work to protect the beleaguered insects.

Park boss Henry Wild says late-flowering plants allow honey bees to forage during the autumn when they need to build energy reserves to see them through the coming harsher months:

He said: “Wild flowers are far less abundant than they once were, and the use of pesticides is blamed by some experts for reducing the food resources for pollinators like bees.

“Our holidaymakers have been extremely impressed at the speed with which our flower bank has grown since it was seeded at the start of the year.

“Some have also been asking how they can create a similar bee buffet in their own gardens, and we have been giving advice as to the best varieties to sow.

“We are also inviting guests to help themselves to the seeds which many of our varieties produce at the end of summer, and to sow them next spring.