Conserving:Bee walk learning to identify

A walk and learn about bees at Colby Woodland garden. Caught several types of bumble bee. All female, white buff tailed, red buff tailed a carder bumblebee and a honey bee. Also honey bees swarming in the walled garden. Learnt about bee life cycle and differences between life cycle of our 25 native bumble bees and solitary bees of which we have around 145 species apparently . Also caught a hoverfly and discussed how to differentiate it (front facing large eyes and short antenna) from bees (eyes more on side of head and long antenna and wings fold over the back ).Also saw 6 spotted Burnett moth, meadow brown and orange tip butterflies. Learnt about important species for bees for pollen.Found out that tomatoes need bumble bees for pollination and that in Australia tomatoes have to be hand pollinated by brushes. Over this summer have identified all 3 bumblebees in the garden and created areas of meadow for them as hay meadows are very important for pollinators survival.Now cutting grass only once every 3 to 4 weeks. Birds foot trefoil abounding as a result ,carder bee happily feeding in garden shown in situ.