Healthy bees need healthy forage. The Wakefield & Pontefract Beekeepers Association encourages everyone – from gardeners to farmers and community groups – to help create landscapes rich in nectar and pollen throughout the year. Every flower counts, and together we can make Wakefield & Pontefract more pollinator-friendly places.
Why Forage Matters
Honey bees rely on a diverse diet of nectar and pollen to stay strong, raise brood, and produce honey. When flowers are scarce, colonies can struggle to thrive. By planting a variety of pollinator friendly plants, you can provide vital food sources and shelter for bees, butterflies, and other insects.
Our local beekeepers see the difference every season – gardens, verges, and hedgerows alive with movement and sound where forage is plentiful.
Top Plants for Pollinators
To support honey bees and wild pollinators across the seasons, try planting:
Spring: crocus, willow, fruit blossom, lungwort, and hellebores
Summer: lavender, catmint, borage, thyme, and single-flowered dahlias
Autumn: ivy, sedum, asters, and sunflowers
Winter: mahonia, winter heather, and snowdrops
Avoid double or heavily bred flowers that offer little or no nectar. Choose open, single blooms that bees can easily access.
Barnsley Beekeepers have put together a planting guide: here.
Bee-Friendly Gardening Tips
- Avoid pesticides and choose organic or wildlife-safe options.
- Provide clean water in shallow dishes or bird baths with pebbles for bees to land on.
- Leave patches of long grass, weeds, and wildflowers where possible.
- Grow native species that suit your local soil and climate.
- Plan for continuity – ensure something is flowering from early spring to late autumn.
Even a small garden, balcony, or window box can make a difference.
Community and Conservation
Wakefield Beekeepers Association works with local residents, councils, and schools to promote pollinator awareness and sustainable planting. From wildflower seed giveaways to educational talks, we’re passionate about helping people understand how simple choices can support biodiversity.
Together for Pollinators
Every plant, every garden, and every patch of wildflower meadow helps sustain the bees that sustain us. Join us in planting for pollinators and making Wakefield bloom for the benefit of all.