Urban bees face specific welfare challenges from pesticide exposure, pathogen spread and habitat quality - gardens can provide significant welfare benefits through appropriate planting and management.
Urban bee welfare requires thinking across multiple scales and species. Managed honeybee welfare centres on Varroa treatment and disease monitoring. Wild bumblebee welfare depends on foraging habitat and nesting site availability. Solitary bee welfare requires appropriate nest sites including undisturbed bare soil and hollow plant stems. Pesticide exposure is a pervasive welfare threat - systemic pesticides in plants sold at garden centres contaminate pollen and nectar. The urban garden network can be transformative for bee welfare if managed well - diverse planting, pesticide avoidance and nesting habitat provision create valuable urban sanctuaries.