10th April 2026

The grounds of Goodnestone Park are superbly managed, with wildlife very much in mind. One point of interest, particularly at this time of the year, is the bee-bank around a veteran Cedar tree close to the walled garden. Yesterday there was a lot going on. There were Yellow-legged mining bees (Andrena flavipes) going about their business whilst a number of parasites were going about theirs. Both Dark-edged and Dotted bee flies were laying eggs at the entrances to the mining bee nests and a number of Painted Nomad Bees (Nomada fucata) were checking out the burrows. They are all quite small but if you get up close, a very busy and quite fascinating little world unfolds. The Iphone photos aren't brilliant, but you get the idea.

Yellow-legged Mining Bee

Painted Nomad Bee