A Norfolk Bee Garden

In the spring of 2014 t had become a bit neglected and severe pruning was required. Large gaps opened up and re-plantingwas required. What could be better than a bee-friendly planting scheme with a Bee Tea to follow?

The National Federation of Women's Institute SoS Honeybees campaign materials gave us plenty of inspiration for planting schemes and for promoting the idea to the WI members and the wider public.

Norfolk WI bee-keeper Meg Dorling
"It is very important that governments throughout Europe and the world and especially here in GB work towards increasing honey bee colonies.

Without them our diet and that of our children and grandchildren will be inadequate to keep humans fit and healthy. How will we consume our '5 a day' without fruit and vegetables which rely on insect pollination to grow and increase? Also without beeswax, no good polish, face creams and candles! We may be able to live without beeswax but life will be very boring"

The National Federation of Women's Institute SoS Honeybees campaign materials gave us plenty of inspiration for planting schemes and for promoting the idea to the WI members and the wider public.
Norfolk WI Environment Representative (Dr Rachel Rusholme Pilcher)  "Bees are one of the key insect pollinator species that play a vital role in the successful production of many of our food crops and in maintaining the biodiversity of our plant species. Since the

SOS for Honey Bees campaign began in 2009, the NFWI have successfully campaigned for increased funding into honey bee pollinator research, lobbied MPs on the importance of the honey bee to our environment and economy, and also raised public awareness on the plight of the honey bee."

The challenge was to get a gardening group and the plants all together, in time to have the garden in full flower for the summer. A challenge easily met by WI members who have many bee-friendly plants in their gardens. In fact so many plants arrived that we clearly had surplus plants to sell at our Bee tea, later in the year. A bigger challenge will be keeping the garden flowering all year.

This is what our Garden Co-ordinator (Jan Kemp) says: "The garden at WI house will continue to be renovated with bees in mind. New bee-friendly perennial planting, including geraniums, hellebores, achillea and sedums, is interspersed with annuals and the wilder section will have bulbs and biennials, such as Eranthis, colchicums and foxgloves and a few 'weeds'.

Later flowering perennials for autumn colour and pollen will be added. Shrubs are being removed or severely pruned to focus on the existing flowering species.The garden has to meet three main criteria, bee friendly, attractive for members and low maintenance. We hope we are on the way to achieving these aims."

The Women's Institute organisation is based on the ideals of fellowship and also aims to educate people in the preservation, conservation and protection of the environment and the prudent use of natural resources.
This project has been full of fun, friends and fellowship and has also allowed us to promote the need for a National Pollinator Strategy to the wider public and our local MPs.