PERFECT FOR ALLOTMENTS WHAT ARE INSECT POLLINATORS? Insects which visit flowers and move pollen between plants, so the plants produce fruit and set seeds. Our wild plants and food crops are pollinated by many types of insects including bees and a wide range of flies, including hoverflies. Some wasps and beetles, as well as butterflies and moths, can also act as pollinators. WHY ARE POLLINATORS IMPORTANT ON ALLOTMENTS? We rely on insect pollinators for the production of many crops including: beans, courgettes, squash, and fruit such as apples, pears, cherries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries, raspberries. WHAT CAN I GROW THAT IS PERFECT FOR POLLINATORS? The following plants have been specially suggested as suitable for allotments – they are a mix of native species and traditional allotment plants. They are either non-invasive, or easy to control and in many cases are edible. As well as those listed, it is also worth noting that many salads and vegetables will be attractive to pollinating insects if allowed to ‘bolt’ or flower. This may take up valuable space in the allotment but allowing a small proportion to flower before removal, especially if the ground is not immediately required, is a good way to help pollinators. Examples include rocket, lettuce, parsnip, leek, onion and cabbage. HERB PLOT (when in flower) FRUIT PLOT VEG PLOT Angelica Apple Broadbean Borage Blackberry Cardoon Chives Blackcurrant Courgette Dill Blueberry *Cucumber Fennel Cherry Globe Artichoke Hyssop Medlar Marrow Lavender Peach *Melon Marjoram Pear Peas Mint Plum Runner Bean Parsley Raspberries Squash Rosemary Redcurrant *Tomato Sage Strawberry Thyme *Indicates plants not currently on RHS Perfect for Pollinator list but should be attractive to pollinators GREEN MANURES AND COMFREY Comfrey, Red Clover, Phacelia tanacetifolia, White Clover. Pollinating insects are in decline and need more food, more shelter and more places to nest. With over 330,000 allotments in the UK, allotment holders can make a huge contribution to pollinator conservation. Supported by Defra www.getbristolbuzzing.org