Urban gardens and green spaces can provide vital habitat for wild bee species, and garden management choices directly affect the welfare and survival of solitary and social bees navigating fragmented urban landscapes.
Urban bees face a patchwork landscape of varying quality habitat and significant pesticide exposure from garden chemicals. The welfare of individual bees depends on access to diverse pollen and nectar sources throughout the active season, undisturbed nesting sites, and freedom from toxic chemical exposure. Gardens managed with bee welfare in mind provide year-round flowering plants including early and late-season species, chemical-free management, and nesting features. Healthy urban bee populations also contribute to the welfare of the broader ecosystem including birds and other wildlife that depend on insect abundance.