Pollinators are the unsung heroes of our ecosystems. While bees often take the spotlight, they are just one part of a larger story that includes butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, and even birds. These creatures are vital for the health of our food systems, our wild plants, and the biodiversity that makes gardens — and life — flourish.
At OmVed Gardens, an urban greenscape, we see firsthand how a thriving garden can become a sanctuary for pollinators. Whether you’re working with a sprawling green space or a window box in the city, you can help support these vital creatures.
Here are 6 practical ways to attract and support pollinators in your garden:
1. Plant for Diversity and Bloom Time
Pollinators love variety. Choose a wide range of plants that bloom from early spring to late autumn. This ensures a consistent source of nectar and pollen throughout the year. Native wildflowers such as foxglove, cow parsley, and red clover are excellent options and well-suited to London's climate.
Tip: Aim for at least three different plants flowering in each season — this mimics nature and keeps your pollinators coming back.
2. Embrace Native and Wild Plants
Native plants have co-evolved with local pollinators, which means they tend to be more nutritious and easier to access. They also often require less maintenance. In the UK, flowers like field scabious, viper’s bugloss, and birdsfoot trefoil are favourites for both bees and butterflies.
Even letting a patch of lawn grow wild can turn your garden into a pollinator paradise.
3. Create Habitat Beyond Flowers
Pollinators need more than just food — they need shelter, breeding spaces, and places to rest. Leave some areas undisturbed. Hollow stems, log piles, and patches of bare soil can provide nesting spaces for solitary bees and beetles.
Butterflies like to bask in the sun, so flat rocks in sunny spots offer great landing pads.
4. Avoid Pesticides and Chemicals
Pesticides, even those labelled as "bee-friendly", can be harmful to pollinators. Instead, encourage natural pest control by inviting ladybirds, birds, and frogs into your garden. Healthy, biodiverse gardens often regulate themselves without the need for synthetic interventions.
If you must treat a plant, do it in the evening when pollinators are less active.
5. Add Water Sources
All living creatures need water — including pollinators. A shallow dish with pebbles or marbles allows bees and butterflies to safely land and drink. Keep it topped up and place it near flowering plants for easy access.
Bonus: A small pond can also attract dragonflies and frogs, which help with garden pests.
6. Grow Herbs and Edibles
Pollinators love herbs — and so do we! Plants like thyme, oregano, borage, mint, and lavender are magnets for bees and butterflies. Allow some of your herbs and vegetables (like rocket or leeks) to flower — those blossoms are a feast for pollinators.
Plus, growing your own food supports a more sustainable, pollinator-friendly food system overall.
Why It Matters
Across the UK and globally, pollinator populations are in decline due to habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. Yet these tiny creatures are responsible for pollinating around 75% of our food crops. By creating pollinator-friendly spaces — even in the smallest of gardens — we become part of the solution.
At OmVed Gardens, we believe in cultivating spaces that nurture both people and planet. Pollinators remind us that every bloom, every buzz, and every fluttering wing plays a role in keeping our world beautifully connected.
