As Britain eagerly anticipates warmer weather over summer, experts have today warned the soaring temperatures are having an adverse effect on the nation’s favourite insect – the humble bumblebee.

Bees expend masses of energy to keep cool in hot weather, which means they lose interest in foraging for food and, as a result, plants don’t get pollinated and develop into crops.

In some cases, they can even die in mid-air from exhaustion. According to some experts, global bee numbers are already down 46%*, partly due to the impact of previous heatwaves.

In an effort to support the much-loved insects amid this week’s sweltering weather, the Chef & Brewer Collection has partnered with popular gardener and horticulturalist Frances Tophill.

This marks the launch of a new summer beer, Golden Nectar, with 20p from every pint going to a wildlife charity.

As part of the partnership, Frances has compiled her ultimate ‘Gardening Principles’, to provide guidance on how to design and plant a beautiful bio-diverse pub garden for bumblebees and other wildlife to enjoy.

This follows latest the Chef & Brewer Collection research crowning bumblebees as the nation’s favourite insect, claiming two thirds (66%) of Brits’ votes.

Here are France’s top tips to support the UK’s bee population this summer:

REWILDING
You can achieve a lot, by doing nothing at all! Otherwise known as ‘rewilding’. Overly maintained and manicured gardens often lack a lot of what makes a green space bio-diverse – a variety of plants. Actively allowing a designated area in your garden to grow wild will naturally invite lots of different
species of wildlife from insects to birds through your back gate without you lifting a green finger – literally!

POND LIFE
An unparalleled resource for biodiversity in a garden is a pond. Becoming a custodian of the botanical riches of a garden pond is super rewarding and a glorious pleasure to watch wildlife change from being completely land-dwelling to semi-aquatic in nature as you welcome British pond species into your daily life, such as the Common Frog, Great Diving Beetle, Pond skaters and so many more – even a rare newt or two!

LET IT GROW
Having intentional ‘messy corners’ in your garden is the easiest way for Brits to play their part. Try and ditch the lawn mower in May to benefit ground nesting bees and back garden biodiversity, taking care when eventually cutting the grass so that there’s no creatures sheltering. The very fact people want to enjoy the benefits of bringing more nature and wildlife into our lives, from our research findings, is a very healthy place to start for the nation to become more biodiverse!

FLOWER POWER
My top tip for managing biodiversity and improving wildlife in your garden at home is to put flowers in there that our British pollinators LOVE – like lavender for the humble bumble bee. Flowers on the whole attract pollinators and provide much needed food for them, and later in the season produce seeds for birds too.

ALL HANDS ON DECK
Start ‘em young and keep ‘em keen. The best motto when it comes to bio-diverse gardening with little ones in tow. Happily, it’s super easy to do as children have a wonderful sense of curiosity and it’s often the case I hear from parents that children are happier outdoors. Let them get messy, let them explore and discover. Let them get bored in a garden, with nothing to do!

GROW YOUR OWN
A household led by their stomach? Try your hand at growing your own food organically! Reap the rewards, literally, while also supporting local wildlife by encouraging insects, bees and butterflies to visit your garden and pollinate your plants.

The Chef & Brewer Collection is further showing its commitment to the Great British countryside with the launch of a thirst-quenching limited-edition cask ale for summer, Golden Nectar.

The pub chain’s pledge will see 20p from every pint sold to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, which campaigns for a thriving natural world where natural habitats help address the climate and ecological emergencies.

Donning the image of the nation’s favourite insect, the bumblebee, Golden Nectar will be available across all 150 country pubs until 23rd July – when nesting continues in earnest for British bumblebees.

Mollie Smith, marketing manager for the Chef & Brewer Collection, said: “This summer marks the start of a blossoming partnership with award winning gardener, Frances Tophill. Frances is working with us to help make our gardens even better, more seasonal and more diverse.

“We have worked with Frances to create our great gardens pledge, creating our principles for what makes a sustainable British pub garden.

“We look forward to welcoming lots of guests to our gardens across the Chef & Brewer Collection to enjoy simply being outside, or to toast Summer with our Golden Nectar Ale.”

To book at your local pub within the Chef & Brewer Collection, visit: https://www.chefandbrewer.com/