'What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet'. When William Shakespeare wrote these immortal words in Romeo and Juliet, he suggested that all roses were the same (in respect of their sweet smell, at least). Indeed, in Shakespeare's day, perhaps most roses were the same, or similar. But he wasn't to know that over 400 years of selection and breeding of roses by horticulturalists would result in a stunning explosion of roses in many colours, shapes and scents. But in the pursuit of beauty, insect visitors of roses have been largely forgotten. Many varieties of rose are now off-limits for bumblebees and other insects, but why?

Throughout most of the winter, I’ve been away from the garden. Apart from the occasional tidy-up, there really hasn't been much to do.

But with spring on the way, it’s time to get ready for another spurt of activity. Sometimes I find springtime simply too busy though. Before you know it, you’re trying to stay on top of the weeding, as well as trying to sow seeds and tend batches of seedlings (pricking out, watering and protecting them from slugs and snails can be a full-time occupation if you have enough seedlings!)

For most bumblebees species, winter is a time for hibernation. Indeed, queens can be expected to spend about half of their life in hibernation! But for the Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), winter can be just as busy a time as the rest of the year. In the warmer parts of the UK, fully active winter colonies of this species are regularly recorded, even when temperatures are close to freezing and there is snow on the ground. Read on to find out how to help them.

In late 2012 I was contacted by one of our members, Rachel B., who wanted to help support BBCT by running a marathon to raise funds. We've since exchanged a few emails (and long-distance running tips!), and Rachel has offered to keep us up to date with her training and progress. She will be running in the Edinburgh Marathon on 26th May 2013, leaving just over five months to get ready for the big challenge! 

Here is the first installment of Rachel's marathon updates: 

As 2012 draws to a close, we’ve been reflecting back on what has been a remarkable year for BBCT. The highlight for the organisation has to have been the launch of the Bees for Everyone project in May. With it came our new look, website, Bee Kind gardening website, and a whole host of new materials that we’ve been sharing at events throughout the UK.