Botanic Garden the place to bee this weekend
The annual Bee and Pollination Festival will take place at the University of Bristol’s Botanic Garden in Stoke Bishop this Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 August from 10am to 5pm which also incorporates the 94th Bristol Honey Festival.
Visitors are invited to come and find out about the vital role pollinators play in our lives and learn more about other pollinators you may find in your garden.
Over the weekend there will be short talks by researchers, conservationists, wildlife filmmakers and beekeepers. Headline speaker, researcher Sam Macro Versteeg from the University of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences works with Dr Christoph Grueter, an Associate Professor in Animal Behaviour and Ecology. Sam will talk about his work involving honeybees and how they respond to threat by Asian Hornets.
The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina), a non-native vespid species, has caused significant damage to native insects, especially bees, and the beekeeping industry in France, Spain, and parts of Italy since its accidental introduction to Europe in 2004. Recent reports indicate sightings in the southeast and southwest of the UK. This talk will provide an overview of the Asian hornet and its chemical ecology, exploring potential solutions found in nature and methods used by people in the hornet's native regions to mitigate its impact.
Jean Vernon author and journalist will lead a bee safari and a talk on Saturday afternoon. Jean who is an award-winning garden writer and winner of the Beth Chatto Environmental award from the Garden Media Guild in 2020 for her writing about bees. Organisers are delighted Jean will provide her expertise on bee identification for the bee safari and a talk on Sunday.
Other speakers include:
- Monica Barlow from charity Bees for Development will discuss how conserving bees and making the beekeepers’ work economically viable can help conserve natural habitats for some of the world’s poorest communities
- Annabelle Lewis from UK Governments Animal And Plant Health Agency will talk about her work in monitoring, tracking and destroying Asian Hornet populations in SE England
- Jill O’Regan of the Bristol Beekeepers will give an illustrated talk about becoming a beekeeping with her talk ‘Getting started with bees’.
Nick Wray, Curator of the Botanic Garden, said: “The importance of insects as pollinators in maintaining healthy ecosystems and agricultural systems is well understood. Insects alarming population decline affects us all and is the subject of pioneering research and changes in land management, which is helping to improve habitats for all insects.
“This year’s Bee and Pollination Festival brings together science and research with a focus on Asian Hornet and beekeepers to provide a stimulating event for everyone, together with exhibits and live demonstrations, workshops and children’s trails. What’s good for pollinators is good for people’s wellbeing too – flowers, interesting people to engage with, lots of plants and a beautiful garden – so come along and enjoy the festival!”
Bristol Beekeepers will be organising their 94th annual Honey Festival. There will be demonstrations of the workings of a live hive, and live flight displays. Two beekeepers, dressed in their protective white suits, will dismantle a hive and explain all the aspects of how bees live and work. There will also be exhibits of honey, wax and bee products, including the opportunity to try and buy many products.
Other highlights during the festival:
- Learn about the University of Bristol Cider apple project and see apples from their Goldney Hall heritage orchard
- Talks throughout both days with experts in the beekeeping and ecology
- Demonstrations of traditional skep making with Chris Park
- Willow weaving demonstrations by Maya Wolf, with visitors able to have a go at some simple structures to take home
- Jean Vernon, who contributes to The Daily Telegraph and gardening magazines, will lead bee ‘safari’ walks on Saturday afternoon and talks on Sunday.
Other displays include Heart of BS13, a community space in Hartcliffe to improve the environment and tackle food insecurity; Grow Wilder inspires people, communities, and businesses to take action for wildlife; Bumblebee Conservation Trust will show how they are working to protect 55 native species; Avon Organic Group will give advice on growing food more sustainably; and students and researchers from the University’s School of Biological Sciences will share some of their latest studies into insect behaviour and understanding of the relationship between honeybees and the introduced Asian Hornet.
Plant nurseries will be at the festival, with expert advice from the growers or bee friendly garden goods available to buy, along with refreshments from Chandos Deli.
The Bee and Pollination Festival will take place at the Botanic Garden at The Holmes, Stoke Park Road, Bristol, BS9 1JG on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 August 2024 from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission: £10 (or £11 with gift aid donation); free to under 18s, Friends of the Garden, alumni and ALL students, carers of visitors. University of Bristol staff, retired staff pay £5.
