Text Box: BEES. Bee numbers are declining at an alarming rate and some species are already extinct. These creatures are so important in the food chain. If only viewed selfishly by looking at how it would affect us, bees pollinate a wide range of foods we enjoy, such as apples, broccoli, tomatoes, cherries, peas, beans and strawberries to name but a few. Albert Einstein said "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man." So you can do your bit to help by planting a few plants they are attracted to and keep them happy through the seasons. March and April flowering:- Cowslip, Bluebell, Deadnettle (lamium), Lungwort (pulmonaria), Bugle(ajuga reptans), Flowering currant(ribes), Winter flowering heathers (erica) May and June flowering:-Columbine (aquilegia), Geraniums (real one, not pelagoniums),Campanula, Californian lilac (ceanothus), Chives, Cotoneaster, Honeysuckle (lonicera), Foxglove (digitalis), Lupin, Thyme. July and August flowering:-Butterfly bush( buddleja), Cornflower (centaurea), Delphinium, Escallonia, Hollyhock, Lavender, Scabious, Marjoram, Eryngium. References: Telegraph.co.uk. Jimmy Lee Shreeve. 3rd August 2007 Coolings Garden Centre Cuttings Magazine. Spring 2009 edition. Text Box: BLUEBELLS. I hope some of you will be able to join Nick Bertrand on this years Bluebell Walk in BPP, he is so knowledgeable it will be a real treat. It does look as if a good display is waiting to thrill us again this year. Much work has been carried out in selected areas of the park controlling holly and sycamore, which means more light can reach the woodland floor. This gives the bluebells a chance to flower and set seed before the trees come into leaf and the canopy closes allowing only filtered light. The habitat stronghold of our native bluebell is broadleaf woodland which our park has, but there are threats from hybridisation with the more robust Spanish bluebell grown in gardens. So far the park bluebells seem to be true English ones, but pollen carried by insects and bees could threaten in the future. In a world of predicted climate change the bluebells survival on that front is unknown. Best thing to do is get out there and enjoy them while we can. See you 2.00 pm at the mansion Saturday 18th April.