Saving bees is an amazing lockdown project – Hayley Matthews

Equipped with a new bee saver kit, Hayley Matthews and kids have found a fascinating new activity.

Our bees are in need of protection

Last week I received an email from Friends of the Earth to say their Bee Saver Kits were back in. I was intrigued. The wee yin (baby Oryn) has a massive bee fascination so thought I’d get us one.

I love to support networks like Friends of the Earth that do lots of good to stop the breakdown of nature and wildlife because, I am that person that feeds the birds, saves the bees and strategically places hedgehog houses in the back garden – don’t tell the neighbours! I’m a sucker for anything bee and wildlife-related. So my midnight online browsing saw me purchase/donate for a bee-saving kit.

I have to admit I wasn’t sure what to expect. And this comes from the woman who puts marbles in a bowl of sugar water for the bees to sit on – so they don’t drown while they drink. It’s an actual thing, Google it!

Anyway, my mission to look after the planet and save the bees is of course pushed on to my children so there was certainly lots of excitement from little Oryn and Harris when the kit turned up. Oryn was mesmerised by the huge bee poster and Harris was excited to dig out the wildflower seeds from the kit that will help us provide vital food and habitat for our black and yellow fuzzy friends. We also received a bee saver guide with tips how to save them, instructions on how to build a bee hotel (that’s next week’s project), a bee spotter poster – to identify bees’ friends visiting our garden – and a garden planner to help create a bee-friendly garden all year round. Yes they work in the winter too.

I’m loving my children’s curiosity for beasties, insects and wildlife and think it’s a great way to get them busy just now. So for all you “be kind folks”, bee kind to the bees and get yourself a bee saving kit.

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