Buckinghamshire hotel supports bumblebee bounce back with new pollinator planting scheme

A conservation-conscious Buckinghamshire hotel is planting nectar-rich flowers across its country estate to support bumblebees during periods of hot weather – with new data showing a decline in the important insects.

Horwood House Hotel, a 4-star manor house hotel in Little Horwood, near Milton Keynes, has begun introducing pollinator-friendly plants across several areas of its 38-acre grounds in response to Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s data, suggesting the UK’s ongoing heatwaves this summer could cause the pollinators to overheat.

After the record-breaking heat of 2022, the charity’s population monitoring data highlighted a decline in several key species, including the red-tailed, buff-tailed and common carder. During extreme heat, the fluffy pollinators struggle to fly without overheating, resulting in them being unable to fly and therefore forage for food.

To help support the bumblebees on its estate, the team at Horwood House have been planting verbena, globe thistle, rosemary, lavender, borage, scabious and foxgloves – all varieties that will provide nectar over a longer flowering season, and help bumblebee species with different tongue lengths access food.

Ivy growth is also being encouraged in the hotel’s well garden, as its autumn flowers can provide nectar after many other summer plants have finished flowering.

Jenny Beal, gardening consultant at Horwood House Hotel, said: “We've chosen a mix of plants like verbena, lavender and scabious because they flower at different times, giving bees a reliable source of nectar right through the season, even in extreme heat. The flowers are being planted near our wedding gazebo, around the rear and side of the Manor House and beside the brick wall at the front of the building. Further planting will take place in the well garden, too."

Caroline Morrone, General Manager at Horwood House Hotel, added: “As custodians of a beautiful historic estate, we feel a real responsibility to protect the wildlife that calls it home. Bumblebees are under increasing pressure from extreme weather, so this planting scheme is a small but meaningful way we can help them survive the heat."

The initiative follows previous biodiversity projects at the hotel, including the restoration of its orchard, the planting of thousands of bulbs and the introduction of drought-tolerant flowers.

The estate also works with Urban Bee-lievers, a Milton Keynes social enterprise that promotes bee-friendly habitats and supports young people who are not currently in education, employment or training. Through the partnership, Horwood House has welcomed more than 25,000 honeybees to its grounds.

Karim Kassam, owner of Horwood House and founder of ZIZ Hospitality, a hospitality investment and management firm that acquired and extensively refurbished Horwood House in 2019, added: “Protecting the natural environment on our estate is something we take seriously, and this planting scheme is another step in our long-term commitment to biodiversity and conservation. We'll keep investing in projects like this to ensure Horwood House remains a haven for local wildlife for years to come."

For more information about Horwood House Hotel, please visit https://www.horwoodhouse.co.uk/.