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Quick Answer
To create a pollinator paradise in the Chilterns: plant native species (hawthorn, lavender, verbena, sedum, alliums), provide nectar from March to November, include host plants for caterpillars (nettles, holly, ivy), add water (pond or bird bath), avoid pesticides, and leave wild corners for nesting bees. A 2026 Chilterns pollinator garden supports 10 times more bees and butterflies than a traditional garden.
Why Pollinators Need Our Help
Pollinators are in decline across the UK. Since 1980, we have lost 50 percent of our wild bees, 60 percent of our butterflies, and 70 percent of our moths. The causes are well-known: loss of wildflower meadows, pesticide use, climate change, and urban development. Gardeners in the Chilterns can help by creating pollinator-friendly gardens.
The Chilterns is particularly important for pollinators. The chalk downland, beech woods, and wildflower meadows support a wide range of species, including some rare bees and butterflies found nowhere else in the UK. Gardens in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Bedfordshire can act as stepping stones between these wild areas, allowing pollinators to move through the landscape.
The Principles of a Pollinator Paradise
1. Plant for Year-Round Nectar
Pollinators need nectar from March (when the first bumblebees emerge) to November (when the last butterflies go into hibernation). Choose plants that flower at different times:
- Spring (March to May): crocus, hellebore, primrose, mahonia, rosemary, forsythia
- Summer (June to August): lavender, buddleja, verbena, echinacea, alliums, salvia
- Autumn (September to November): sedum, ivy, Japanese anemone, aster, fuchsia
See our wildlife plants guide for more.
2. Include Host Plants for Caterpillars
Butterflies and moths need specific plants for their caterpillars to feed on. Without these, the adult butterflies cannot breed. Important host plants:
- Nettles: peacock, small tortoiseshell, red admiral, comma
- Holly: holly blue butterfly
- Ivy: holly blue butterfly (second generation)
- Garlic mustard: orange tip butterfly
- Birdsfoot trefoil: common blue butterfly
- Grasses: many moth and butterfly caterpillars
Leave a patch of nettles in a corner of the garden. It will support more butterflies than any flower bed.
3. Add Water
Pollinators need water. A bird bath, a shallow dish of water with stones for landing, or a pond with shallow edges all provide drinking water. Bees especially need water to cool their hives and dissolve crystallised honey.
4. Avoid Pesticides
Pesticides kill pollinators. Even "organic" pesticides can be harmful. Avoid all pesticides in a pollinator garden, and accept some pest damage as the price of a healthy ecosystem.
5. Leave Wild Corners
Many pollinators nest in the ground or in hollow stems. Leave a corner of the garden undisturbed:
- Leave a bare patch of soil for ground-nesting bees
- Leave hollow plant stems for solitary bees
- Leave a log pile for beetles and other insects
- Leave a leaf pile for overwintering insects
- Install bee hotels for solitary bees
Popular articles
The Best Pollinator Plants for the Chilterns
Native Trees and Shrubs
- Hawthorn, flowers in May, supports 300+ insect species
- Blackthorn, flowers in March, early nectar
- Holly, flowers in June, berries in winter
- Ivy, flowers in October, late nectar
- Hazel, catkins in February, early pollen
- Rowan, flowers in May, berries in autumn
Native Perennials
- Primrose, early nectar in March and April
- Foxglove, tubular flowers for long-tongued bees
- Ox-eye daisy, flat flowers for butterflies
- Knapweed, nectar-rich flowers in summer
- Scabious, long flowering, butterflies love it
- Yarrow, flat flowers for hoverflies
- Teasel, seeds for goldfinches in winter
Garden Plants That Pollinators Love
- Lavender, flowers for months, bees love it
- Buddleja, butterfly magnet in late summer
- Verbena bonariensis, tall, airy, butterflies
- Sedum, late flowers for bees
- Echinacea, long-flowering, butterflies
- Alliums, early summer flowers for bees
- Salvia, long-flowering, bees
- Marjoram, herb, flowers for bees
Designing a Pollinator Garden
- Choose a sunny spot, bees and butterflies prefer sun
- Plant in drifts of 3, 5 or 7, easier for pollinators to find
- Mix flower shapes, tubular (for long-tongued bees), flat (for butterflies), composite (for short-tongued bees)
- Plan for year-round flowering
- Include host plants for caterpillars
- Add water, bird bath, shallow dish, or pond
- Leave wild corners for nesting and overwintering
- Avoid pesticides
Popular articles
The 2026 Pollinator Garden Calendar
| Month | What is flowering | What pollinators are active |
|---|---|---|
| March | Crocus, hellebore, mahonia | Early bumblebees, brimstone butterflies |
| April | Primrose, rosemary, forsythia | Bumblebees, peacock butterflies |
| May | Hawthorn, alliums, foxglove | Bumblebees, solitary bees, red admirals |
| June | Lavender, salvia, verbena | All bees, butterflies, hoverflies |
| July | Buddleja, echinacea, sedum | Peak butterfly season |
| August | Verbena, sedum, salvia | Peak butterfly season |
| September | Sedum, aster, Japanese anemone | Bees preparing for winter |
| October | Ivy, fuchsia, aster | Late butterflies, bees |
| November | Ivy | Last bees and butterflies |
Common Mistakes
- Planting only non-native plants. Native plants support more pollinators. Mix native and non-native.
- Using double flowers. Double flowers have no nectar or pollen. Choose single flowers.
- Using pesticides. Pesticides kill pollinators. Avoid them entirely.
- Not providing water. Pollinators need water year-round.
- Tidying up too much. Hollow stems, leaf piles, and bare soil are nesting and overwintering sites. Leave some.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best single plant for pollinators?
Lavender. It flowers for months, bees love it, butterflies visit it, and it is evergreen. Plant a swathe of lavender and you will have pollinators all summer.
Should I leave nettles in my garden?
Yes, a small patch in a corner. Nettles support peacock, small tortoiseshell, red admiral and comma butterfly caterpillars. More nettle patches means more butterflies.
Do bee hotels work?
Yes, if positioned correctly. Place in full sun, facing south or southeast, 1 to 2 metres off the ground. Clean annually to prevent disease.
Get Help Creating a Pollinator Paradise
If you want to create a pollinator paradise in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire or Bedfordshire, send us a WhatsApp with photos and we will aim to respond within 12 to 36 hours, Monday to Sunday.
Further Reading
- Best wildlife plants for Chiltern gardens
- A wildlife-friendly garden without looking messy
- Creating a pollinator paradise
Established trees and shrubs have deep root systems and tolerate drought better than recent plantings. Prioritise watering young plants and those in containers during dry spells.
Put this advice into practice
Use the relevant CGM tool or follow a related guide, then send us a few photos if you would like a tailored plan.
Sources and citations
This article draws on the following sources. Specific claims are cited inline where relevant.
- CGM field records (2026-07. Site observations from gardens across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Bedfordshire.
- Royal Horticultural Society (2024). RHS Gardening Advice and Plant Finder. Available at rhs.org.uk.
- Met Office (2024). Regional climate averages, South East England. Available at metoffice.gov.uk.
- British Geological Survey (2024). Soil parent material data for the Chilterns and Thames Valley. Available at bgs.ac.uk.