{"id":3969,"date":"2023-04-06T22:08:28","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T21:08:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbanbees.co.uk\/blog_1\/?p=3969"},"modified":"2024-03-09T11:45:11","modified_gmt":"2024-03-09T10:45:11","slug":"rooftop-raised-beds-for-bees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.urbanbees.co.uk\/blog_1\/?p=3969","title":{"rendered":"Rooftop raised beds for bees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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April 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This area of roof 12 storeys above the City was originally earmarked for honeybee hives, but we explained to the client (a large real estate managing agent) that hives don’t do well in the City due to many factors including lack of forage, We suggested they transform the area (25m2) into a bee garden for wild solitary bees and bumblebees to boost biodiversity. They agreed. So we made wooden raised beds earlier this year to hold 300mm of soil\/lecca, fitted a drip irrigation system in case of drought and on 5 April 2023 myself and Alex finally got up on the roof to plant a variety of tough, bee-friendly shrubs and perennials that will sequentially bloom from later this month through to autumn. We decided that the first planter would contain plants that flower late spring, the second planter by mid summer, and the third for late summer plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope the depth of soil, the bark chipping we used as mulch and the irrigation system will prevent the roots drying out and give the plants plenty of room to grow and spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plants include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n