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 Green Eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) is a fast-flying and distinctive solitary bee, best known for its striking green eyes and early appearance in the year. It is one of the UK’s more eye-catching spring bees and is often noticed darting rapidly between
Introduction The Smeathman’s Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum smeathmanellum) is a small but widespread solitary bee commonly found across much of the UK. It is active for a long part of the year and is often overlooked due to its modest size and subtle colouring. You’re most
Introduction The Buffish Mining Bee (Andrena nigroaenea) is a common and widespread solitary bee in the UK, most often noticed in spring when it emerges to take advantage of early flowers. Its slightly variable colouring and busy activity make it a familiar sight in gardens,
Introduction The Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) is one of the first solitary bees to appear in the UK each year, often emerging in early spring when few other bees are active. Its early arrival makes it an important pollinator at a time when flowering
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 Red-shanked Carder Bee (Bombus ruderarius) is a scarce and declining bumblebee species in the UK, most often associated with warm, flower-rich grasslands and lightly managed countryside. It is typically active from late spring through summer and is known for its subtle colouring and
Introduction The Bilberry Bumblebee (Bombus monticola) is a distinctive upland bumblebee closely associated with moorland and mountainous landscapes in the UK. It is most active during the warmer months, where it plays an important role in pollinating plants adapted to harsher, cooler environments. You’re unlikely
Introduction The Short-haired Bumblebee (Bombus subterraneus) is a rare and historically significant bumblebee species in the UK. Once widespread across southern England, it is now best known for its dramatic decline and subsequent reintroduction efforts aimed at restoring this lost pollinator to suitable habitats. This
Introduction The Northern White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus magnus) is a large, striking bumblebee most strongly associated with cooler climates and upland or northern parts of the UK. It is active through spring and summer and is often seen foraging on a wide range of flowers in
Introduction The Great Yellow Bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus) is one of the UK’s rarest and most distinctive bumblebees. Once widespread, it is now largely confined to a few remote coastal areas, where it emerges during the summer months and quietly goes about its work as a
Introduction: Winter Bee Feeding Recipe for Healthy Hives Winter bee feeding is essential for hive survival, especially as natural forage disappears and temperatures drop. Honey bee colonies rely on stored honey, but reserves often run low. That’s why beekeepers must step in with proper feeding
How to Identify the Broken-belted Bumblebee in the UK The Broken-belted Bumblebee (Bombus soroeensis) is easy to recognize due to its: This species closely resembles other bumblebees, making careful observation essential for accurate identification. Learn more about UK bumblebee species and how to identify them