Bring out your bee costumes and gardening gloves – Bee Aware Month (BAM) is nearly here!
This September, schools, councils, gardeners and bee enthusiasts all over the country will be getting involved in generating awareness about bees.
Apiculture New Zealand (ApiNZ) will run this annual event, a month-long campaign designed to educate New Zealanders about bees and celebrate their vital role in our biodiversity and economy.
Shining a spotlight on our bee-loved pollinators
Kiwifruit, feijoas, chili peppers and coffee are just a few things that we wouldn’t have without bees.
According to FAO, 75% of the world’s food crops depend at least in part on pollination. The honey bee is the most widespread managed pollinator globally.
This year’s theme, Pollination Illumination, is all about shining a spotlight on the benefits bees provide us through pollination.
“The pollination story is significant to New Zealand not only in agriculture and horticulture but in the role native bees play in maintaining our unique biodiversity,” says Karin Kos, ApiNZ Chief Executive.
New Zealand’s smaller native bees, of which there are 29 species, play an important role in pollinating native flora such as pohutukawa and harakeke.
Kos says that people in both rural and urban spaces can play a part in helping bees do their job by creating safe and nourishing spaces for them. This means growing bee-friendly plants and minimising the use of sprays.
A hive of activity
With the support of sponsors De Winkel Yoghurt, Farmlands Co-operative and Mitre 10, ApiNZ will be running activities and competitions during BAM.
BAM will be launched with a family event co-organised with Wellington Botanic Garden and the Wellington Beekeepers Association at Treehouse Visitor Centre, Wellington Botanic Garden on 3 September. The programme will feature a live display hive, educational walks and talks, drop-in activities for kids and honey tasting.
Anyone interested in BAM can get involved and keep up-to-date with what’s happening and get involved via the Bee Aware Month Facebook page and the ApiNZ website BAM page.
For more information contact Hannah Amante at info@apinz.org.nz or +64 4 471 6254.