Creating a Buzz
Planning what to pack on a trip to a remote Atlantic Island I was a little surprised to discover that visitors are banned from taking honey. Not because it’s something I would have particularly thought of taking, although I’m now picturing all those delicious sweet treats that we would have to forego, but the tiny island of St Helena’s embargo rightfully recognises the importance of the common bee, an under-sung hero of everyday life. The “Don’t step on a bee day” on July 10th reminds us of the fragile balance of the bee and our dependence upon this colourful insect. Responsible not just for the delicious honey which adorns breakfast tables around the world, their busy buzzing actually helps provide over a third of everything we eat! So, with bee numbers in some countries having halved in the last decade and no apparent cause, it’s vital that we take care to maintain bee populations, pollination and honey production, not just to safeguard the honey and beeswax that they make but also the key they hold to life as we know it.
Most children learn from an early age that bees are good, especially compared with wasps, but in the space between school and adulthood we often forget just how crucially important they are to the food and drink that we take for granted and the visual spectacle of blossom and fruit that marks the change in seasons that we so enjoy.
If you want to
make a big buzz about bees, here are some ideas and resources!
Bee-cos facts A must-have for any bee-inspired project is this booklet of facts and actions available free from www.
foe.co.uk/resource/.
Make your own Bee & Bee Why not make your very own bee hotel using short
28
lengths of bamboo? Research what bees need and then have some fun becoming architects for a bee’s house, designing extensions and additions galore! Check out this link to get you started:
www.foe.
co.uk/sites/default/fi les/downloads/bee_hotel.pdf)
Bee-friend some fl owers Why not get out this month to sow some bee- friendly
plants and seeds like lavender, sage,
strawberries and runner beans? If starting from scratch bee friendly wildfl ower mixes off er the best mix of plants to attract bees to your patch of ground.
Go on a fl ower, bee or minibeast hunt July is a great time for getting out in the sun to spot pollen laden bees close-up, complete with magnifying glasses and cameras. Children will love discovering which fl owers attract the most bees or minibeasts and watching eagle-eyed as the pollen dusted bees cleverly store their load.
Sticky stories Share some great bee stories like ‘The Beeman’ (Laurie
Krebbs) or ‘The Honey Makers’(Gail
Gibbons), whilst huddled up on a gorgeous Flower Rug or Flower Meadow Mat complete with its own cute story (both
www.playtoz.co.uk) just perfect for setting the scene. Then there’s always classics like Winnie the Pooh, the Common bee’s number one fan!
Bee-utiful glow Make your very own beeswax candles, either with or without heat, using the kits available at several craft stores and online.
Children can experiment
with shapes, sizes and rolling techniques to create the perfect candle.
Bee Kind Say the word bees and fi rst and foremost we might think of honey but propolis is a type of resin used
To advertise in thewire t. 07720 429 613 e. fi
ona@thewireweb.co.uk
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