‘Beautiful bees and glorious gardens’ is a special day of wildlife-related activities, all designed to celebrate the importance and fascination of our wonderful bees.
It takes place from 10am–4pm on 16 August, within the acclaimed naturalistic setting of Wimborne’s Knoll Gardens, which is now also becoming well-known for its wildlife-friendly approach to gardening.
Amongst the many experts, you’ll be able to join a bee walk with Jane Adams, founder of the national Garden Bioblitz, meet up with bee monitor and naturalist Dr Richard Comont of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and join in with bee-related activities including making bee houses and beeswax candles. The East Dorset Beekeepers Association will be displaying a virtual hive and selling local honey so you can find out just how the honey you eat is made and there will also be the opportunity to discover the best plants to attract and feed bees in your own garden.
Around 250 species of bee can be found in Britain. Of these, twenty-four are bumblebees, just one is the honeybee and the rest are solitary bees. All are important pollinators and many are in decline and need our help.
The special event is being run by the Knoll Gardens Foundation to help you tell a mason bee from a tree bee, and a cuckoo bumblebee from a honeybee, give you some ideas to use in your own garden and open your eyes to the wonderful world of bees.
Knoll’s owner, Neil Lucas said, “The Knoll Gardens Foundation is all about promoting the sustainable gardening practices we use here at Knoll to help others support wildlife in their own gardens. Through our research and education programmes, we aim to show how easy it can be to attract and retain wildlife – and have a beautiful garden at the same time. Hopefully all our visitors will take home some top tips and advice for their own beds and borders as well as enjoying a great day out.”
For more information call Knoll Gardens on 01202 873931.
