Garden experts are recommending gardeners leave out ‘pollinator pitstops’ this summer to encourage bees, butterflies, birds and other wildlife into urban gardens.
This year, garden experts at B&Q want to remind you that it’s possible to have a thriving wildlife garden even if you have a small garden or balcony. In fact, the beauty of making your own pollinator pitstop is that it will fit any garden.
On a recent trip to B&Q’s flagship sustainability store in Cheltenham, I was lucky enough to attend a pollinator pitstop workshop in the store’s sustainability garden. Here’s everything I learned about what they are, why every garden can benefit from one and how to create one yourself.
What you need
B&Q
Verve Florus Terracotta Bell Plastic Plant Pot (dia) 55cm, (h)40cm, 60.5l
B&Q
Verve Peat-Free Multi-Purpose Compost 50l
B&Q
Hidcote Lavender Outdoor Shrub Plant Lavandula Angustifolia 2l Pot
What is a pollinator pitstop?
In the workshop hosted by Jamie Walton, founder of Nettles & Petals, I learned that a pollinator pitstop is a very easy way to attract bees to a garden.
All you need is a planter, some pollinator-friendly plants and a small dish of water filled with pebbles. This gives your local wildlife a ‘pitstop’ where they can stop off for a drink of water during hot summer days. And the pebbles? I hear your question. These provide an area for bees to perch, so they don’t get trapped in your water dish. It’s very similar to a bee hydration station, which is one of the easiest ways to help bees in hot weather.
‘People often assume you need a large garden to support wildlife, but that’s simply not the case. A pollinator pit stop is a space designed to provide pollinating insects with the food, water and shelter they need to thrive. It can be as simple as a few nectar-rich plants in pots, a shallow water source, and a small area left a little wilder. Collectively, those small actions can have a big impact,’ Jamie said.
To create his pollinator pitstop, Jamie used purple thyme, ivy and lavender in his pot. He filled the pot with peat-free compost (£7, B&Q) and explained the pitstop was best placed in a sunny spot after completion. While thyme and lavender are excellent at feeding pollinators in the spring and summer months, it is the autumn berries that ivy produces that mean you can attract and feed your garden wildlife for longer.
‘One of the biggest mistakes I see is gardens that peak in July and then offer very little for the rest of the year. Pollinators need support beyond summer, so think about what is flowering across the seasons. Crocus and Pulmonaria are brilliant in early spring when insects are emerging, while Sedum and Asters help provide a late-season food source. If you can create a succession of flowers throughout the year, you’ll make a much bigger impact and attract regular visitors,’ he said.
And other wildlife experts agree this is a brilliant hack that offers loads of benefits to a small garden. In fact, why not get the whole family involved? Making a pollinator pitstop is a great weekend activity for kids, too.
‘I think a pollinator pitstop is a lovely idea, and supporting pollinators is crucial. They’re an especially great idea when your garden space is limited, as they provide a small space for bees and birds to refuel before continuing on their journeys,’ comments James Ewens, wildlife expert at Green Feathers. ‘Think of a pollinator pitstop as the wildlife equivalent to a cafe on the canal.’
‘It’s always worth being mindful, though. Water needs to be regularly replenished so it isn’t stagnant and unhygienic. Make sure water is clean and regularly topped up, and ensure it’s shallow to make it insect-friendly. Some birds may use the water, too, but they’ll generally prefer a slightly larger bird bath nearby that’s more accessible. Overall, though, it’s a simple, accessible way to support local wildlife and encourage more pollinators into the garden.’
Is this a wildlife-friendly idea you’ll be trying out this summer?
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