This archive brings together practical, experience-led articles from The Backyard Farmer, covering gardening, DIY, indoor growing, foraging, reviews, and sustainable living. Each post is written with real-world use in mind — focusing on working with nature, building practical skills, and making sustainable choices more accessible.
Introduction The Norwegian Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus norvegicus) is a scarce parasitic bumblebee in the UK, most often encountered in upland and northern habitats during summer. As a cuckoo bumblebee, it does not build its own nest or raise workers, instead taking over the nests of
Introduction Barbut’s Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus barbutellus) is a distinctive parasitic bumblebee found across parts of the UK during late spring and summer. Unlike most bumblebees, it does not build its own nest or collect pollen. Instead, it infiltrates the nests of other bumblebee species, relying
Introduction The Orange-tip Mining Bee (Andrena fulvago) is a small, early-flying solitary bee best known for the subtle orange colouring on the tips of the males’ antennae. Active mainly in spring, it is a specialist of open grassland and lightly managed habitats where early flowers
Introduction The Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida) is a medium-sized solitary bee that is often noticed in spring due to the pale grey patches of hair on its thorax. Active mainly in early to mid-spring, it is a regular visitor to flowering trees and shrubs
Introduction The Shaggy Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum villosulum) is a small but distinctive solitary bee, named for its noticeably hairy appearance compared to other furrow bees. Active mainly from late spring into summer, it is often overlooked due to its size, despite being fairly widespread in
Introduction The Cliff Mining Bee (Andrena thoracica) is a large, early-flying solitary bee that stands out for its size and powerful build. Active mainly in spring, it is one of the UK’s more imposing mining bees and is often noticed when females emerge from nesting
Introduction The Harebell Carpenter Bee (Chelostoma campanularum) is a small, specialist solitary bee closely associated with harebells and related bellflowers. Active in early to mid-summer, it is easily overlooked due to its small size and quiet behaviour, but it plays a vital role wherever its
Introduction The Small Scissor Bee (Chelostoma florisomne) is a tiny, specialist solitary bee that often goes unnoticed due to its size and quiet behaviour. Active in late spring and early summer, it is most closely associated with bellflowers, which play a crucial role in its
Introduction The Silvery Leafcutter Bee (Megachile leachella) is a compact, coastal specialist that becomes active in early to mid-summer. It is best known for its pale, silvery appearance and its habit of nesting in sandy ground near the coast, making it a distinctive sight on
Introduction The Orange-legged Furrow Bee (Halictus rubicundus) is a small but noticeable solitary bee, best recognised by the warm orange colouring on its legs and its habit of nesting in sunny, open ground. It is active for much of the year and is often seen
Introduction The Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) is one of the UK’s most eye-catching solitary bees, instantly recognisable by the enormous, bright orange pollen brushes on the hind legs of the females. These oversized “pantaloons” make it a favourite among photographers and a memorable sight in
Introduction Yellow-faced Bees (Hylaeus species) are a group of small, slender solitary bees found throughout much of the UK. They are named for the distinctive yellow or pale facial markings seen on many species, particularly the males. Because they lack obvious pollen-carrying hairs, they are