Bees help plants produce flowers faster by nibbling on their leaves

Cunning bumblebees help plants produce flowers by nibbling away on their leaves in way that speeds up blooming, according to a new report. Bumblebees that wake up earlier in the year than normal due to climate change face a scarcity of pollen because flowers are yet to bloom, European researchers claim. They therefore bite the … Read more

Insects are gorging themselves on ‘junk’ as rising CO2 levels make plants less nutritious 

Grasshoppers are gorging themselves on the equivalent of ‘junk food’ as rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere make plants less nutritious, a study has found.  Experts studying a grassland preserve in Kansas discovered that its grasshopper numbers have fallen by more than 30 per cent over the last two decades. Increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide … Read more

Mountains of plants thrown onto compost heap because they cannot be sold during coronavirus lockdown

The managing director of a plant wholesaler said his firm has lost more than £2.5million-worth of business in the last three months after garden centres were forced to close as part of the coronavirus lockdown. Adrian Marskell, who runs The Bransford Webbs Plant Company in Worcester, in the West Midlands, has had to begin throwing away … Read more

Desk plants ‘can calm you down and make work less stressful’

Having a bonsai tree or cactus on your desk to stare at while working can keep you calm and make your job less stressful, researchers say. Japanese experts studied whether a small plant could really improve mood at work, given nature is known to improve general wellbeing.  Office workers were given an indoor plant, such … Read more

Garden centres risk having to dump 200million plants if they don’t re-open soon, nurseries warn

Ministers are under growing pressure to allow garden centres to open immediately amid warnings the lockdown will force nurseries to dump 200 million unsold plants and hand rival European firms a major advantage. Former Tory Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said it was illogical to allow supermarket chains to sell plants and flowers, but not garden centres … Read more

Tiny beetle that attacks ragweed plants could help ‘millions of hay fever sufferers’

Tiny beetle that attacks ragweed plants and prevents them from flowering ‘could be the key to relieving millions of hay fever sufferers of their symptoms’ Pollen released from the invasive ragweed plant is a key cause of hay fever  One plant can release a billion grains of pollen, causing sneezing and itchy eyes Experts found … Read more

Amazon workers at two distribution plants fear the bug will thrive there

Amazon warehouses ‘are prime sites for coronavirus’: Workers at two distribution plants fear the bug will thrive there because of a lack of hand sanitisers and non-enforcement of social distancing among staff Amazon’s business is booming as shop closures have seen orders surge online But a worker in Doncaster said lack of space means they … Read more

Orlando Bloom plants a kiss on pregnant fiancé Katy Perry through car window

Orlando Bloom plants a kiss on pregnant fiancé Katy Perry through car window as the pair stop off at a gas station on weekend outing By Sean O’grady For Mailonline Published: 09:26 GMT, 23 March 2020 | Updated: 09:26 GMT, 23 March 2020 They revealed earlier this month they are expecting their first child together … Read more