The humming of contented honey bees at a Lancashire holiday park could soon be sounding a reprieve for plants often seen as a garden nuisance.
Moss Wood caravan park near Lancaster has found this autumn that ivy plants in its grounds are acting as a magnet for the endangered insects.
Now the park’s owner, Henry Wild, is alerting holiday guests to lay down their secateurs if ivy is discovered in their own back yards.
The cause of Moss Wood’s bee bonanza has been traced back to a colourful 3000 square feet wilderness of wild flowers planted by the park earlier this year.
Specially chosen for their high pollen-bearing blooms, they have been providing a source for the much-needed nectar upon which honey bees depend.
But as the flowers die back in autumn, says Henry, all the extra bees which the park has attracted have needed to build up their food reserves for winter.
And thanks to look far:
“Our research found that the nectar produced by ivy is of very high quality – but the problem is that people don’t see it as a flowering plant because the blooms are so tiny,” said Henry.
“Ivy only flowers for a couple of months in autumn – but during that time, it’s an essential life-line for bees, butterflies and other pollinato help them make it through the colder months.
“However, many people try to gutters and drains, and damaging brick work.
“Our wildflower meadow drew many bees over summer – and in autumn, the insects prefer not too far for foraging, so our ivy produced a real boon.
“As many of our guests are nature lovers, we’re using our experience to make their gardens even more bee friendly,” said Henry.
Family-run Moss Wood, established by the Wild family over 40 years ago, provides around 200 pitches for holiday homes, torhomes.
Its many initiatives top gold level.
Moss Wood also helps threatened solitary bees by providing them with “glamping pods” which take the form of hardwood logs bored with hundreds of tiny tunnels.
There is more information about Moss Wood Caravan Park at www.mosswood.co.uk