From the blooming gardens of RHS Wisley in Surrey, Hamza Yassin and Sammi Kinghorn celebrate one of nature’s heroes – the not-so-humble bee!
Hamza gets a beginner's course from RHS Wisley’s resident beekeeper. He then heads into the lab with a researcher studying the microbiome of honeybee hives to better understand what indicates a healthy beehive. Hamza also meets a multidisciplinary artist and sculptor installing one of his latest artworks, which aims to provide a new nesting habitat for solitary bees.
Sammi has a close look at some early season bumblebees and discovers their favourite nectar sources, recording data for national biodiversity research. She visits a nearby community garden with a bee-friendly ethos and learns how best to look after solitary bees, as well as meeting a honeybee rescuer nursing a swarm back to health.
With his apple trees currently in bloom in his orchard, Adam Henson is buzzing to plant some wildflower seeds and learn how helping bees can deliver a bumper crop of apples.
Joe Crowley investigates the controversy over a pesticide that can be deadly to bees. Show less