Bees are much-loved and hugely important creatures. But most of us know next to nothing about them. There are actually over 200 species in this country. They live in burrows, holes in trees and even empty snail shells. They have favourite flowers. Some even sleep curled up in the blooms.

They are more fascinating, beautiful and surprising than you can imagine. Once you start to notice bees, sitting in the garden or going for a stroll will never be the same.

This handy little guide is the perfect way to start the journey. It’s beautifully illustrated and has a delightful and thoughtful text by one of Britain’s leading bee experts, Dave Goulson, author of the best-selling ‘Garden Jungle’.

Discover mason bees and mining bees, cuckoo bees and carder bees, even a couple of convincing bee impersonators. Learn to distinguish your white-tailed bumblebee from your buff-tailed bumblebee, your pantaloon bee from your hairy-footed flower bee.

Dave Goulson is Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex. He is a leading bee expert and author of the Sunday Times bestsellers ‘The Garden Jungle’ and ‘A Sting in the Tale’, which was also shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson prize and has been translated into fifteen languages. He is an Ambassador for the UK Wildlife Trusts, the National Allotment Society and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.