Born to Bee Wild

Did you know...

• Bee-friendly plants in this garden include wild carrot (Daucus carota) and a cultivated variety of betony (Stachys officinalis 'Hummelo'). Trees can be useful too; here hawthorn, whitebeam and cherries provide early nectar and pollen
• Water is an important resource for wildlife, bees included; however, it's important to use aquatic plants to give them safe places to land. Here small waterlilies make ideal landing pads
• The hard landscaping in this garden has been kept to straight lines to minimise cuts and wastage. Set on the diagonal, this gives dynamism to the design and creates interesting triangular planting pockets

About the garden

The Born to Bee Wild garden focuses on the concept of the beehive and the ability of this natural creation to promote life and become a hive of activity. The garden aims to harness the beauty and potential of nature when left undisturbed, creating a space to simply sit and observe its joys without interference. The planting creates a haven for wildlife and is designed specifically to attract pollinators. Angled paths crafted with different materials provide routes through the space and link the seating areas with the wild planting. There’s an orchard with a mown grass path to the rear, a pond at the centre and the beehive, which forms the focal point.

The RHS Plants for Pollinators guide was used to choose the plants for this garden.