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 Red-tailed Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus rupestris) is a striking parasitic bumblebee recognised by its bold black body and vivid red tail. Active from late spring through summer, it is most often seen feeding on flowers rather than nesting, as it relies on other bumblebee
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 Vestal Cuckoo Bee (Bombus vestalis) is a striking and unusual bumblebee species found across much of the UK. Unlike most bumblebees, it does not build its own nest or raise workers. Instead, it is a cuckoo bee, meaning it takes over the nests
Introduction The Forest Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus sylvestris) is one of the UK’s lesser-known bumblebee species. Unlike social bumblebees, it doesn’t build its own nest or have worker bees. Instead, it takes over the nests of other bumblebees, relying on their workers to raise its young—a
The Gypsy Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus bohemicus) is an intriguing and rare species of parasitic bumblebee. Renowned for its unique reproductive behavior and reliance on host species, this bumblebee plays a vital role in our ecosystem. However, its declining numbers highlight the need for conservation efforts.
Identifying Bombus campestris The Field Cuckoo Bumblebee is slightly larger than other species, measuring 15–18 mm. It stands out with its distinctive black and yellow markings, often accompanied by reddish hairs on its abdomen. Unlike social bumblebees, it lacks pollen baskets on its legs due