Rare Ivy Bees Found in Unexpected Hampstead Schoolyard

Dr. Anya Sharma · 2026-09-30

I never thought I'd find rare ivy bees in the grounds of a private school in Hampstead. But that's exactly where I stumbled upon them—and it changed how I think about urban wildlife. Let me back up. Ivy bees (*Colletes hederae*) are a relatively recent addition to the UK's bee fauna, first recorded in 2001. They're striking little creatures, with banded abdomens and a fondness for ivy flowers. But they're also rare, and finding them usually means trekking out to coastal cliffs or heathlands. So when I heard a rumor about a colony in a Hampstead schoolyard, I had to check it out. ### The Hunt Begins I arrived at the school on a crisp October morning. The grounds were quiet—just a few teachers prepping for the day. I explained my mission to the head gardener, who looked at me like I'd lost my mind. "Bees? In October?" she asked. I nodded. Ivy bees are late-season specialists, emerging in September and sticking around until November. They time their lives perfectly with the blooming of ivy, which is one of the few nectar sources available that late in the year. She pointed me toward a sunny south-facing wall covered in ivy. And there they were—dozens of them, buzzing lazily around the flowers. Their thoraxes were fuzzy and golden, their abdomens striped with black and orange. They looked like tiny, elegant wasps, but their behavior was pure bee: gentle, focused, and utterly absorbed in the ivy. ### Why This Matters Finding ivy bees in a schoolyard isn't just a cool anecdote. It's a sign that our cities can support rare wildlife if we give it half a chance. Ivy is often dismissed as a nuisance—something to be cut back or paved over. But for ivy bees, it's a lifeline. And for us, it's a reminder that conservation isn't just about remote nature reserves. It's about the ivy on our walls, the weeds in our gardens, and the patches of green in our neighborhoods. I spent an hour watching them. The bees were completely unbothered by my presence. They went about their business, collecting pollen and nectar, occasionally bumping into each other in their haste. It was mesmerizing. ### What You Can Do If you want to help ivy bees and other late-season pollinators, here are a few simple things you can do: - Let ivy grow. Resist the urge to trim it back until after it has flowered (usually November). - Avoid pesticides. Ivy bees are sensitive to chemicals, and so are most other pollinators. - Plant late-blooming flowers. Think asters, sedum, and of course, ivy. - Create nesting sites. Ivy bees nest in sandy soil, often in bare patches. Leave a little space for them. As I left the school, I felt a quiet sense of hope. If a rare bee can thrive in a Hampstead schoolyard, imagine what else is possible. We just have to pay attention. "The ivy bees are a reminder that nature is resilient—if we let it be." So next time you see a patch of ivy, don't dismiss it. Take a closer look. You might just spot something rare.