The June Gap

Traditionally the June Gap is a term used in beekeeping when the spring flowers have faded, but the summer blooms have yet to fully open, resulting in a temporary scarcity of both nectar and pollen for the insects. This of course doesn’t just affect honeybees, but other native pollinators too and as such can also have an impact on the wildlife further up the food chain that feeds on them in turn. 

Interestingly, the June Gap can be very localised according to the microclimate and abundance of local flora. These days climate change can affect it too, with flowers blooming earlier than they used to, meaning that the June Gap has become more of a May Gap in some years.

So what can we do to help our wildlife with this phenomenon? We are all familiar with the concept of gardening with wildlife in mind, and this is a perfect example of when that wildflower patch in your lawn comes into its own. One of the most important features must be the use of native wildflowers. Although there are generalist pollinators which can feed on a wide range of nectar producing plants, many of our native insects rely on native plants.

Ox-eye Daisy, Clover, Meadow Buttercup, Common Knapweed and Wild Carrot are all great for pollinators in a meadow setting and you may also wish to consider adding Yellow Rattle to the mix as this hemiparasitic plant will help to keep the grasses in check and allow those wildflowers to thrive.

Alternatively, if you have a deciduous hedgerow or shaded spot under which to plant a few things, you might like to include Green Alkanet, Yellow Archangel, Foxgloves and Red Campion. It’s worth noting though that under the shade of non-native conifers like Leylandii, these species tend to struggle a bit more for water and light. Even leaving a few logs here would help, deadwood in a breeding ground for numerous beetle and hoverfly species among other things.

In terms of the bird life in your garden, you can help them too. If you have been feeding them in the spring, the key thing is not to stop during the summer months when it might seem as though they don’t need it. Although there are some species which rely wholly on insects, there are others which will also eat seeds if there is a scarcity of insect prey, so having this option available is important to them throughout the warmer months.

The balance within the natural world is often on a knife edge – too little rain, too little sun, cooler temperatures than normal or a local disturbance to the native flora through farming or development could all play havoc with our pollinators and so for the creatures that rely on them for food. However, with the Office for National Statistics stating that in Britain our gardens make up a whopping 30% of urban environments, we have the opportunity to support our native wildlife and keep it thriving even in these areas that appear on the surface to be the antithesis of everything wild.