[MalcW]

I would like to make my plot a bit more bee, hoverfly and other good insect friendly for next season. I was thinking of some piled up wood for beetles, an area of sandy soil for burrowing bees, and flowers.

Any thoughts on what flowers or shrubs to plant, and when, to give maximum benefit through the year? And any other ideas? Thanks.

[Nobbie]

Ivy provides nectar over winter, Buddlia and nettles are good for butterflys. Nastursiums could trail all over the wood pile along with the ivy.

[beesrus]

Poached egg flowers are an allotment classic for attracting hoverflies. I have them and they flower late Spring or late Summer depending on when you sow them. They then re seed themselves every year with no problems.
 
Windbreaks are a good idea, less digging and definitely no chemical pesticides whatsoever.

[tosca100]

Bees and hoverflies like open faced flowers

[Gardener and Rabbit]

I keep a strip of oregano all along the edge of my veg patch, just because the bees love it so much.  It attracts lots and lots of bumble bees. It's just coming into flower now, and will flower for several weeks. The bees also nest in the soil around it, so I leave it undisturbed for them.

You can also build some interesting-looking insect hotels out of stacked old pallets,  just search for images of "insect hotels" to get the idea.