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 Cryptic Bumblebee (Bombus cryptarum) is a common but often overlooked bumblebee in the UK, largely because it looks extremely similar to other members of the white-tailed bumblebee complex. Active from early spring through late summer, it plays an important role in pollinating a
Introduction The Blue Mason Bee (Osmia caerulescens) is a small, fast-moving solitary bee named for the subtle blue sheen often visible on its dark body. Active from spring into early summer, it is a familiar species in gardens and allotments where suitable flowers and nesting
Introduction The Moss Carder Bee (Bombus muscorum) is a softly coloured, shaggy bumblebee best known for its warm ginger-brown coat and gentle appearance. It is active from late spring through summer and is particularly associated with flower-rich coastal and grassland habitats. In the UK, this
Introduction The Giant Willow Flower Bee (Anthophora furcata) is a striking, early-flying solitary bee that often draws attention due to its size, speed, and bumblebee-like appearance. Active mainly in spring, it is one of the larger flower bees found in the UK and is known
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