Cuprinol Garden Shades partners with Bee1
Cuprinol is supporting Bee1's pollinator protection initiative to raise awareness of the decline of bees and pollinators.
Bee1 is a pollinator protection initiative established to address the decline of pollinators on a local and global scale. With bees now declared the most important animals on the planet, founder Mark Douglas and his team of beekeepers are on a mission to support pollinator welfare at their own apiary in South Wales. They also spread knowledge and share resources to the wider community through educational programmes and charity work. Find out more.
Founder of Bee1, and Cuprinol Garden Shades new resident beekeeper, Mark Douglas, built on research that bees are attracted to bright colours and painted his beehives in Cuprinol Garden Shades. Using a rainbow of Cuprinol Garden Shades colours, he observed an uplift in the number of happy bees calling the hives home. He notes 'The paint makes the beehives waterproof, meaning the honeybees in particular don't need to work quite so hard'.
There has been great research into the fact that bees are very perceptive to colour, and we know this through centuries of natural selection; the gorgeous flowers in our gardens have evolved to be as bright and beautiful as possible in order to attract such pollinators. Garden Shades colour selection is inspired by nature and it is heartwarming to see the colours used in a way that encourages the environment to thrive.
Pollinator Tips
Tips to support bees and pollinators in our own outdoor spaces
Mowing the grass less frequently helps lawn flowers such as dandelions to grow and the shorter grass allows for easier access to them. We can also help bees and butterflies (who have lost 97% of their natural habitat in the last 75 years) by growing our own wildflower gardens. Bee1 bee bombs contain 32 wildflower seeds, soil and clay to scatter on the ground and watch your wildflower meadow grow.
Use bright colours and plants
Filling our gardens and outdoor space with bursting blooms is a great way of welcoming natural animal life. Frame your flowerbeds with Curinol Garden Shades to make them pop and make the space more attractive to pollinators. Bees best perceive blues, green and violets so Cuprinol Garden Shades such as Beach Blue, Emerald Stone, Seagrass and Purple Pansy is basically like inviting the bees to a disco in your garden.
Become a Citizen Scientist
Apps like Spotabee are a supportive way of getting everyone involved in keeping track of our species.
Become a Bee First Aider
Exhausted bees spotted in the wild can be treated with a mixture of sugar and water to give them a quick energy fix.
Bee and Bug Hotels
These are available to purchase or make yourself to provide accomodation for nesting pollinators. They also make for ideal winter homes for solitary bees. It is perfectly safe to paint your wooden hotels in attractive Garden Shades colours to ensure a five-star stay across the board.
FAQs
What Cuprinol Garden Shades colours have you used on your bug hotels?
Dazzling Yellow, Emerald Stone and Coral Splash.
What Cuprinol Garden Shades colours have you used on your bee hives?
Dazzling Yellow, Forget Me Not, Seagrass and Pollen Yellow.
What are available in Cuprinol Garden Shades range?
You can view all of beautiful shades here – each inspired by nature.
Where can I buy Cuprinol Garden Shades?
Take a look at our store finder to find your local stockist.
Is Cuprinol Garden Shades ‘bee friendly’ or ‘non-toxic’ paint?
Cuprinol Garden Shades has been specially developed to colour and protect sheds, fences and other garden wood. Its special pigments ensure a rich colour and allow the natural texture of the woodgrain to shine through. It can also be applied on terracotta, brick and stone, to bring beautiful colours to the rest of the garden – including the exteriors of bug hotels and bee hives.
What colours from Cuprinol Garden Shades is best to attract bees?
Like Mark, you can take this up a notch with the colours you paint your garden wood and furniture. Bees best perceive blues, green and violets, so decorating your wood, terracotta, brick and stone in Cuprinol Garden Shades colours such as Beach Blue, Emerald Stone, Seagrass and Purple Pansy will work well.