World Bee Day - Protect our Pollinators
World Bee Day 🐝 is a great opportunity for us to appreciate and give a little helping hand to the pollinators of our beautiful planet! From flowers to food, these tiny insects are key to the survival of humanity, and are a whole lot more important than many of us realise.
Pollinators carry pollen from one flower to another - these plants can then make the seeds, fruits & nuts needed to grow seedlings, which spread and grow in new areas. Apple trees, for example, produce THREE-TIMES more fruit when pollinated compared to those that aren't 🍎
Keep an eye out for pollinators such as bees, hoverflies, butterflies, moths & beetles when you go outside, you'll see them mostly during the Spring & Summer when flowers and plants are in bloom!
SALISBURY BEE TRAIL
Kingdom Of Sticks have an amazing bee trail around Salisbury, with 14 illustrated signposts, each with a little bit of 'bee knowledge' for those curious minds out there! An app is also available to download, which brings the featured bees to life with the help of AR Technology 🐝
For those who prefer paper, find the printable trail map here. You can also pick one up from Five Rivers Health & Well-being Centre, where stocks allow.
For those of you with Gardens, why not grow some pollinator-friendly plants to provide a perfect place to stop. Find out more on which plants are best for your gardens smallest visitors here.
FIVE TOP TIPS FOR BEE-ING BEE FRIENDLY
As many of us are aware, the bees are absolutely critical to the survival of humanity. Everyone can do their part to ensure the bee population continues to thrive. With Rebecca from Kingdom of Sticks' help, we’ve put together some top tips to help our buzzy little friends around the city;
1. Know your bees - Wild bees are the true army of pollinators and all too often overlooked. Knowing the difference between domestic honeybees and wild bee species is absolutely key to how we approach the looking after of bees! Attending talks from specialists in wild bee species is fundamental – Rebecca often holds talks for beginners, so keep an eye on Kingdom of Sticks for more info.
2. Create nesting places over Winter – Wild and vulnerable bee species are 'at the mercy' of how we manage our green spaces and there are some really simple ways to ensure they can make it over winter. Each of the wild species requires a different place to nest, so a little homework and knowledge is a great place to start! Fear not though, it is all easy to learn stuff, you just need to know where to start!
3. Feed your bees – Tired bees require a little boost of energy, so if you find one resting on the floor, a spoonful of sugar water is perfect to get them on their way! As a general food source all bees eat different things, and careful, thoughtful planting is key – you can attend one of Rebecca’s fun workshops to see which bees eat what!
4. Go organic in your garden - It is better to treat your garden as one big nature reserve, protecting and respecting everything in it, if you want the insect life to thrive.
5. Pass it on! - Hold the 'pass it on' flag very high and watch it work wonders. Rebecca’s work has inspired dozens of other projects around the country!
