One of our green roofs is now home to 40 bee orchids; and on a roof John installed at Wat Tyler Park a Stelis phaeoptera, or cuckoo bee, was recorded. Not found in Essex for 90 years (this bee is listed as rare/vulnerable) it shows the benefits of creating invertebrate habitats on buildings.
This solitary bee forages on bird’s-foot-trefoil, field scabious, hawkweed, spear thistle and speedwell, some of which is always included on our roofs. (Stelis phaeoptera image: Nigel Jones)
