THE STORY BEHIND MY BEE AWARENESS BOX
If you have been following my Leaf Lane Studio journey for a while, you will know that I am a huge nature lover. Since I was a child I have adored animals, plants and trees and have wanted to save or rescue everything I could. I am still that person who moves a ladybird, worm or caterpillar out of harm's way on a walk (whilst simultaneously fretting that I have moved them back to where they set off from, then feeling guilty that they may get worn out!). I buy plants that look sad, purely because I worry no one else will want them and I want to keep them from being thrown away. Rightly or wrongly, I have always attached so much emotion to nature, it feels like a calling to me and I have always wanted to help where I can.
One of the things that was at the top of my list for spring/summer was to create a couple of bee themed products for my shop. Although I had some ideas to send out bee-friendly wildflowers, I hadn’t thought about other pieces that would go in the collection and so, whilst searching my brain for the inspiration I needed, I started sketching a really scrappy looking bee on my iPad! As the drawing developed I felt really attached to the little bee I was creating and started to share the drawing on Instagram, where so many people ask if they could buy a copy (you guys are so lovely, you really are!). At the same time that I was working on the drawing, I spotted a news article about something that angered me so much and that feeling of anger and frustration at what I had read pushed me to forge ahead with my bee ideas to try and help raise some awareness.
What had angered me into action was an article that revealed how the U.K government had approved bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides, previously banned for use due to their many dangers. These dangerous pesticides, unsurprisingly, threaten other insects too, but for our crucial pollinators they have devastating effects. They disturb the bees' navigational and breeding capabilities and can end their lives altogether.
Whilst I am very aware that a few pieces of bee themed stationery are not going to change the world, what I wanted to have was a chance to raise some awareness. When putting the bee box together I got in touch with a beautiful company called ‘Seed ball’, who sell lovely bee-mix clay/soil balls containing wildflower seeds that our little bees will adore. The balls also contain a small amount of chilli powder, which prevents the birds, and many other insects, from gobbling them up! Seed balls are amazing because you don’t need to have a garden or pots, you can simply throw them into a hedgerow or somewhere on your dog walk one morning, and they will eventually pop up some gorgeous bee-friendly flowers, like foxgloves and wild marjoram, for them to enjoy! Seed ball kindly allowed me to become one of their trade customers, so I was able to buy lots of bee friendly seeds and pop them into the box too! I am over the moon to be able to get these out to you guys who buy the box as it will help the bees in your area to thrive!
Some important bee facts you need to know:
Our bees are majorly responsible for so much pollination of our gardens, parks and wider countryside.
They are perfectly adapted to pollinate, transferring pollen between flowering plants and keeping the natural cycle of life turning.
Since 1900 we have lost approximately 13 species of bees, with another 35 under serious threat, due to intensification of farming and use of pesticides, such as the previously mentioned neonicotinoids.
The bees' habitats are being majorly threatened through climate shifts and changes to the flowering patterns, so it is more important than ever that we do what we can.
How can we help?
Grow a bee friendly garden (or sew your seed balls!). Bees enjoy a ‘cottage garden’ environment, which includes things like: native wildflowers, like primrose, buddleia, and marigolds. If you have space to let some of your garden grow wild the bees will love it! They adore long grass and places to nest and enjoy the yummy flowers that will thrive there.
Open a hotel! Whether you want to build your own or buy a ready made one, a ‘bug hotel’ will be greatly appreciated by the bees. There is loads of advice on-line about how to create one, and it is really easy to do!
Help the tired bees. Most of us are aware that if we spot a bee that is flagging, we can help it using a sugar-water solution. (The best advice I have seen is in a post by Bee Vive). They also sell a lovely ‘Bee Revivial Kit’; a keyring containing a mini glass bottle full of bee reviving syrup water, which you can then refill with your own sugar-water solution! I have mine with me when I go on walks so I am always prepared!
This blog post could go on and on, because there are many businesses offering lovely bee saving/helping items and websites with heaps of tips and advice, but rather than repeating all of their advice I will link to some useful places below, so you can then use their original resources to find your own way to help save the bees that feels right! Any small thing you can do will help, so just start small, the bees will love you for it!
Bee Resources
Bee Vive - Amazing products and tips, I highly recommend having a look at their site but also following them on Instagram too. I’ve reached out to them a couple of times for bee advice and they are so lovely and really helpful.
Greenpeace article about the pesticides and link to the petition.
Thank you so much for reading this post, I hope you found it insightful and interesting. I just feel so passionate about this cause and want to encourage you to just consider planting a few bee-friendly seeds and enjoy seeing the bees buzzing about and thriving in your garden! Let me know if you do decide to do something for the bees, I’d love to know!
If you would like to get one of my last bee boxes (only a few remaining) I would be over the moon to send one to you. Check out all the goodies here!