Chairman of the Pollination Program R&D Advisory Committee, Gerald Martin, said that as there was increasing public concern for the wellbeing and survival of global honeybee populations the guide was timely.
“... honeybees are coming under increasing pressure from urbanisation, bushfires, changing agricultural practices and changing land management practices,” Mr Martin said. “Pests and diseases are an ever-increasing threat, including the deadly bee pest Varroa mite which has wreaked havoc across the globe. ....”
“The guide lists herbs, shrubs, trees and other plants, broken up into suggestions for domestic gardens, streetscapes, urban open spaces, rural environments and stationary beekeeping, and further categorised by type of climate,” he said. “Growing plants that provide food for honeybees can be accomplished at any scale, from a pot of herbs on a balcony to thousands of hectares of revegetation or pastures. “Many of these plants are also beneficial to a range of other insects, birds and small mammals that live on nectar and pollen.”
Bee Friendly - A planting guide for European honeybees and Australian native pollinators is available at this link: PS News link.
(Thanks to PS News for this item)
