33 Bee-swarm season


Bee swarming is a natural process and an instinctive part of the annual life cycle of the honey bee. It is also a sign that the honey bee population is healthy and reproducing.


In late spring and early summer Found a honey bee


swarm?..... get in touch with a local


temperatures rise triggering bees to rapidly increase their population and make a new queen who will take over the hive from the old queen. The old queen will then fly off from the hive to set up a new home taking half the bees with her. Swarms vary in size but are made up of 1000’s of bees. Useful contacts below:


• Bbka.org (The British Beekeepers Association) • South Hams Beekeepers: call 9am – 6pm for a swarm collection 07311 47188 • Southdevonbees.org South Devon (except Torbay) Phil 07891 554012 and Torbay Gerry 07802 851152.


The Colour Purple The swathes of bluebells (the native ones) are an early feast for our bees and pollinators who seem to love a blue bloom. Borage, catmint, lavender, verbena, echium, buddleia are other favoured flowers along with the wild honeysuckle you may spot in hedgerows.


No Mow May! Botanical charity Plantlife are once again


encouraging us all to leave the mower in the shed throughout May. Liberating your lawn gives those minibeasts and plants a chance to grow making way for healthier and more diverse lawns as well as providing vital supplies for our much-needed pollinators.


Nature & Wildlife Events


8 May Yealm Estuary - Life in the Mouth Join the Estuaries Officer to delve into the intertidal world along the shore towards the mouth of the Yealm Estuary. 12noon – 2pm. Southdevon-nl.org.uk


12 May Forage for Food & Medicine Day Sharpham House Forage for wild herbal medicine and food with expert Brigit Anna McNeill and discover the world of plants and nature. Sharphamtrust.org


19 May Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies Wembury Beach A chance to get up close to some of our amazing insects on this family bug hunt. 2-4pm. Meet at Wembury Beach Car Park. Southdevon-nl.org.uk


1 June Sea Watch Saturday Wembury Point The monthly citizen science sea watch with the Devon Wildlife Trust’s Marine Engagement team. 8.30 – 10.30am. wemburymarinecentre.org


Bird song builds to a crescendo on World Dawn Chorus Day on 5 May. The cacophony of sound can make detection more difficult so why not try the Merlin Bird app to identify who’s singing in your garden.


8 June World Ocean Day Rockpool Safari To celebrate this special day the Devon Wildlife Trust staff will be running an additional rockpooling day teaching about some of Wembury’s most famous inhabitants. 1-2.30pm Southdevon-nl.org.uk


Sources: Devon Wildlife Trust, The Woodland Trust, Plantlife


8 June Dart Estuary Saltmarsh – Life at the fringe of the ocean The Quay, Stoke Gabriel Mill Pool Join the Estuaries Officer to look at this very special wildlife community at the very brim of the Ocean. 1-3pm.


9 June Open Farm Sunday Learn more about farming and our local countryside. Check the website for participating farms. Farmsunday.org


23 June Meet the Bees East Prawle Celebrate National Insect Week and join expert John Walters and find out about these wonderful insects and what we are doing to secure a future for them. 2 - 4pm. Southdevon-nl.org.uk


20 – 23 June Kingsbridge Nature Festival A celebration of our local environment and all the ways we can take action for nature as a community. Kingsbridgeclimateaction.co.uk


30 June Big Day Out on the Farm East Soar Farm, Malborough Celebrate National Insect week with Life on the Edge. There’ll be bug hunting, crafts, performances, talks etc. Southdevon-nl.org.uk


beekeeper who will collect and assist the colony to survive.


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