World Bee Day Events World Bee Day Events World Bee Day is 20th May The public can help bees by planting bee friendly plants in their gardens and encouraging their councils to plant wildflower meadows and leave grass verges alone to allow wildflowers to bloom. Here in the UK May is a busy time for beekeepers who are tending their bees and watching them progress into strong colonies and often bringing in a spring honey crop - depending on the weather and forage available. A message from British Beekeeper's Chair Stephen Barnes British beekeepers' Association offers leaflets and information about planting for bees and has a Planting for bees quarterly blog available to encourage the public to help support bees by planting more food.During May BBKA also supports 'No Mow May' where the public are asked to not mow their lawns for a month to allow wild flowers to grow and provide pollen and nectar as food for all pollinating insects. If you have a large garden or land then you could consider offering space to beekeepers. Many associations hold taster days for members of the public to visit apiaries and get to see bees. Beekeepers all over the country do talks to schools, Scouts and Guides, WI, and other organisations all year round. If you'd like to find out more contact your nearest beekeeping association on BBKA's page "Find Beekeeping near you" Mellor Railway Station Bee ProjectMellor school continue their Bee Project with a display at Mellor Railway station. Teacher Christine Skelly who is in charge of the project said "It started with the Trees for Bees project run by the Stockport branch of Cheshire Beekeepers and has just kept going"The school is in the process of getting bee suits and completing the hive in time for when the bees arrive around the 20th of May. This coincides with World Bee Day when the whole school will dress up as bees in order to raise funds for the purchase of the honeybees and bee suits. Stockport beekeepers have supported the venture by donating the starter hive and kit. Alan Towse, the SBKA Education secretary, has also spent time helping to make the hive and frames, as well as teaching the basics the bees and beekeeping. He will support the school throughout the coming season. Stockport Beekeepers are holding an event in Stockport Town Centre on May 28, to celebrate World Bee Day, working with Stockport Council and Raw Creative Ltd. There will be an observation hive, the chance for kids to dress in bee suites for selfies, honey and wax product sales and educational handouts. This is a very popular event, last done pre- pandemic in 2019. It’s a case of "back by popular demand"! Warwick & Leamington branch are supporting The Canals and Rivers Trust family fun day with bee workshop on 20th May at Hawkesbury Junction, Coventry. Ormskirk & Croston branch of Lancashire & NW BKA are attending a primary and a junior school on May 19 as part of bee awareness week. There will be lots of bee related activities.The week after Martin Smith from Ormskirk & Croston branch will be taking an observation hive to Blue Peter as part of their follow up show to World Bee Day. Watch Blue Peter on Friday 27th May on BBC. Harrogate and Ripon BKA are formally opening their new apiary at RHS Harlow Carr on World Bee Day. Official RHA Apiary opening at 2pm https://hrbka.org.uk/event/official-rha-apiary-opening-at-2pm/ Nottingham BKA Find out more click here