Bee-Friendly Flowerbed Unveiled in Heaton Park

In Manchester's Heaton Park, one of the United Kingdom's largest public green spaces, experts unveiled a large-scale bee-friendly flowerbed on Wednesday to provide essential support for pollinators as spring emerges. The installation, created with input from explorer and bee specialist Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, coincides with the launch of the two-part National Geographic series "Secrets of the Bees," hosted by filmmaker Bertie Gregory and premiering April 1 at 7 p.m. on National Geographic WILD, with streaming available on Disney+ the same day.

The flowerbed serves as a refuge for bees during a vulnerable period, when newly emerged queen bees seek food and nesting sites after winter hibernation. Food sources remain limited in early spring, making such habitats crucial for colony establishment. Designed to offer nectar, pollen, water, and safe nesting areas, the garden features 13 varieties of pollinator-friendly plants, including primroses, greater periwinkle, lungwort, and wood spurge. These selections ensure a steady supply of resources, demonstrating how targeted planting can aid declining bee populations.

Dr. Vásquez Espinoza, who collaborated on the project, emphasized...