Latest Bees in the news Bees Needs Week Bees Needs Week 2020 13-19 July The BBKA will be sharing our favourite beekeeping moments on our social media: sharing our members photos of their beekeeping under lockdown and our most popular stories from the last 12 months. Follow us on social media Winners of the Bees Needs Week Awards for 2020 included Manchester & District Beekeepers Association - they have an excellent video about their work hereFor more about the 2020 WinnersWhat is Bees Needs Week?Bees' Needs Week is an annual event coordinated by Defra, working alongside charities, businesses, conservation groups and academic institutions to raise awareness of bees and other pollinators, This year due to Covid19 it'll be an online event by sharing stories and videos through social media. So there won’t be a pop-up shop in Carnaby this year given the restrictions. Raising awareness of bees and other pollinators Bees’ and other pollinators aee vital for growing lots of our favourite foods and for plants to flourish in our fields and gardens There are 5 simple actions everyone can take for pollinators: Grow more flowers, shrubs and trees Let your garden grow wild Cut your grass less often Don’t disturb insect nest and hibernation spots Think carefully about whether to use pesticides Some of the BBKA pages will help you Gardening for bees page https://www.bbka.org.uk/gardening-for-bees A variety of leaflets https://www.bbka.org.uk/bbka-leaflets including Ten favourite flowers for small gardens To attract Honey Bees What Bee is this?BBKA have just launched our new page https://www.bbka.org.uk/what-bee-is-this to help with the hundreds of enquiries we have from the public every year. Schools! Project Bees in Schools https://www.bbka.org.uk/project-bees-in-schools Planning Guideline documents for keeping bees at School Managing your apiary, time commitment Schools' beekeeping management plan Model rules for the Apiary Model risk assessment Schools then they have access to Bees in the Curriculum which has a range of educational materials for use in the classroom. The Junior Beekeeping Certificate in 2019 was taken by 37 children, with 22 the previous year. Schools projects include the Heron Hill and Ashbrow School. These schools have continued during lockdown and share and support their social media. Resources from other organisations National Insect Week – Links to loads of learning resources The Bee Cause- a pack for Educators (Friends of the Earth) Plants for Pollinators- Teaching Resources Countryside Classroom STEM Pollination Resources BBC- Science KS1 / KS2: What is pollination and how does it work? Wildlife gardening ideas: Buglife - fun gardening activities Wildlife Trusts - pollinator-friendly plants RHS - plants for pollinators Friends of the Earth - gardening for bees Kew School Resources KS2 Pollination Learning at Home Grow Wild- Pollinator Resources Campaign for School Gardening website - https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/Resources/Find-a-resource?so=0&pi=10&ps=10&f=2,8:&page=2 The pollinating insects spotter guide is quite nice - https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/Resources/Spotter-Guide/Pollinating-Insects-Spotter-Guide, together with the easy annuals list here https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/Resources/Info-Sheet/Plants-for-pollinators-guide-to-plants. Or for info on flowers and pollinators see https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/Resources/Info-Sheet/Plant-pollination-and-reproduction Learning through landscapes NEW RESOURCE -this is a week of family activities that parents can do at home all about pollinators. https://www.ltl.org.uk/resources/week-14-home-learning-early-years-to-upper-primary-copy/ Resources for schools Mission Invertebrate- Royal Parks digital resources about pollinators - some family activity sheets, and a set of resources about planting for pollinators made for National Gardening Week. https://www.royalparks.org.uk/get-involved/mission-invertebrate/resources/learn-online-mi Buglife https://www.buglife.org.uk/get-involved/children-and-schools/b-lines-school-pack/ Sustainable Learning – Pollinator Resources (Buglife) Bumblebee Conservation Trust -Children's fun and learning activities <ENDS 2020>PREVIOUS YEARS 13 June 2019 Bees’ Needs Week is a week long campaign from 8-14 July 2019 to help raise awareness of bees and other pollinators. During Bees’ Needs Week, London’s world-famous shopping destination is renamed ‘Carnabee Street’ and transformed into a hive of activity. The iconic Carnaby Street arch has been given a bee-themed makeover and a popup ‘Hive’ will open at 3 Newburgh Street from 8-14 July, with a host of educational and fun games, installations and talks. This will include: A bumblearium giving visitors the chance to get close to the bee action Virtual Reality headsets to experience the inner workings of a bumblebee nest Honey Tasting The chance to look at specimens of bees up close, using microscopes More information is available at: https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/bees-needs/and on twitter using #BeesNeeds -ends-