While we spend time trying to keep some creatures out of our gardens, bumblebees are ones that are encouraged to enter them.

Garden experts are encouraging homeowners to help our struggling pollinators as bumblebees use enormous amounts of energy to stay cool in hot weather.

Popular gardener and horticulturalist Frances Tophill has teamed up with Chef & Brewer Collection to offer a guide on how to create a bio-diverse garden that supports bumblebees and other wildlife. 

The early part of this century has seen a 46% decline in the bumblebee population, according to Inside Climate News, so it’s important to help where we can.

Native wild animals in the UK

This follows the latest Chef & Brewer Collection research which revealed bumblebees as the nation’s favourite insect, claiming two thirds (66%) of Brits’ votes. This data was taken from a Prolific survey of 2,000 UK adults in May 2024.

Here are Frances’ top tip for helping bumblebees this summer.

How to help the UK’s bumblebee population

Rewilding

Doing nothing at all can help you achieve a lot when it comes to helping bumblebees. This is known as rewilding.

Gardens that are overly maintained and manicured often lack a lot of what makes a green space bio-diverse – a variety of plants.

Actively allowing a designated area in your garden to grow wild will naturally invite lots of different species of wildlife from insects to birds through your back gate without you lifting a finger.

Pond life

A pond is an unparalleled resource for biodiversity in a garden.

If you’re able to have a pond in your garden, you can look forward to seeing creatures such as the Common Frog, Great Diving Beetle, Pond skaters and even a rare newt or two.

How to get rid of these common garden pests

Let it grow

The easiest way for Brits to play their part is to intentionally have ‘messy corners’ in their gardens.

Frances suggests avoiding the lawn mower in May to help ground nesting bees and back garden biodiversity.

It’s important to be careful when you eventually cut the grass to make sure there are no creatures sheltering.

Flower power

Another tip from Frances is to put flowers in your garden that pollinators love like lavender for the bumblebee.

Flowers on the whole will attract pollinators and provide them with food and later in the season produce seed for birds as well.

Grow your own

Growing your own fruit and vegetables will attract insects, bees and butterflies to your garden where they can pollinate your plants.

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Mollie Smith, marketing manager for the Chef & Brewer Collection, said: "This summer marks the start of a blossoming partnership with award winning gardener, Frances Tophill. Frances is working with us to help make our gardens even better, more seasonal and more diverse. 

“We have worked with Frances to create our great gardens pledge, creating our principles for what makes a sustainable British pub garden. 

“We look forward to welcoming lots of guests to our gardens across the Chef & Brewer Collection to enjoy simply being outside, or to toast Summer with a refreshing drink."