Page 21 - ALG Issue 2 2021

Bees
Stranded or resting?
KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR BUMBLEBEES IN NEED DURING BUMBLEBEE SEASON
The bumblebee season is between March and October, and during this time you may spot them on the ground as though they are stranded or hurt.
You might be tempted to feed them some sugar-water to help; however, sometimes they are actually only resting, and sugar-water should only be usedasalastresorttogiveastruggling bee a temporary energy boost.
PROVIDING SHELTERED AREAS FOR RESTING BEES
Resting bees are a natural behaviour, particularly with early spring bumblebee queens. Not only can you plant bee-friendly herbs and flowers
to attract bees but you can help a bee, that is looking for a place to rest, by leaving patches of long grass and leaf litter in undisturbed areas.
JUDGING WHETHER A BUMBLEBEE NEEDS YOUR ASSISTANCE
Is there a chance of it being stepped on or run over if it remains where it is?
• Ifyes,movethebumblebeetoa sheltered place if it is safe to do so.
• Ifnot,askyourself...
Has the bee remained in the same place for over 45 minutes?
• No:checkbackin30-45minutes. • Yes:askyourself...
Are there some bee-friendly flowers nearby?
• If there are, carefully move the bee onto a flower. The pollen and nectar might just give the bee the essential nutrients it needs!
• Iftherearen’t,mixtogetherasugar- water solution at a 50/50 ratio and offer some drops on a teaspoon or in an upturned bottle cap in a sheltered place.
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DO NOT take the bee inside to shelter it
DON’TS WHEN ASSISTING BEES
• DONOTusebumblebeehoneyor brown sugar. Honey can contain harmful pathogens, and brown sugars are harder to digest. White sugar must be used to make the sugar-water.
• DONOTtakethebeeinsideto shelter it.
Sourced from guidance on the Bumblebee Conservation Trust website. For more information about the Trust visit: www.bumblebeeconservation.org
New discoveries for Carbon Capture Remin!
From covid to climate change we
have all become more aware of our own vulnerability. Growing our own vegetables for food, and to improve our physical and mental health, is now seen as more important. National Allotment readers have always
known the benefits and enjoyment of growing vegetables and that the key to successful gardening is healthy soil.
In the TV Series, A Perfect Planet, Sir David Attenborough tells us “Volcanoes fertilised our Planet”. The inter-linked health of our soil, plants, animals and ourselves is where REMIN volcanic rock dust (REMIN) comes in. It is a UK freshly crushed and screened ancient rock that erupted onto Planet Earth 360 million years ago, before vertebrate life evolved onto land. It has remained as rock
ever since until it is suddenly blasted, crushed, screened and bagged. Nothing else happens to it before you supply it to your garden.
The benefits are based on its full range of minerals and trace elements that act as a pre-biotic for the soil food web. The soil food web is the incredible
soil army that REMIN boosts to make soil minerals, and minerals in the REMIN itself, available to plants. For a struggling wormery, add a little REMIN and, with right moisture and food, watch the improvement. Worms love REMIN!
The exciting development for REMIN (Scotland) Ltd is now the recognition
of REMIN’s ability to capture one of
the greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, and secure the carbon from it into soil. Scientists have proven that calcium and magnesium in freshly crushed REMIN is present as a silicate. As it weathers, via a natural process called Enhanced Rock Weathering, both minerals release the silicate and capture carbon.
REMIN (Scotland) Ltd now has a Carbon Capture Verification Agreement with Newcastle University to verify that REMIN directly captures carbon dioxide. REMIN’s Founding Director, Jennifer Brodie says this supports her long held conviction that this organically certified, award winning material can help heal the planet.
Here is Jim Ingram, a REMIN covert,
award winning material can help heal the planet
in Banchory Allotments planting his potatoes for 2021. Once he has dug the row, he adds farmyard manure, then REMIN, then places the potato on top and covers the row. As it is still cold, he will be fleecing over the soil. Jim says he gets a better flavour for all his veggies using REMIN. He also specialises in growing dahlias at home and he finds REMIN gets him a bigger better plant and flower.
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 21