Image above courtesy of David Habluetzel

SDBK would like to invite schools to enter its Bee and Bug Hotel Competition. The theme of the competition is with a view to pupils learning more about other types of bees like solitary bees, bumblebees, mason bees, and other pollinators. This is the children’s opportunity to produce a creative design that considers the needs of bees and bugs for their hotel. The competition is a practical and fun activity that can be enjoyed by pupils of all levels and is supported by The Beatles Story museum.

Southport and District Beekeepers (SDBK) although primarily concerned with honey bees also care about and encourage understanding and protection of all pollinators. According to the Wildlife Trust, honey bees are likely responsible for pollinating between 5-15% of the UK's insect-pollinated crops. That leaves 85-95% of the UK’s insect-pollinated crops relying on wild pollinators. Many species of bee, wasp, moth, butterfly, hoverfly, fly and beetle provide an essential service in the UK (and globally) pollinating £690 million worth of crops annually.

The competition is open for pupils in Nursery to Year 6, a maximum of one entry per year from each school can be submitted (max 7 entries per school).

The finished Bee and Bug Hotel should be no larger than 30cm in any direction. The contents and nesting materials of the Bee and Bug Hotel should be items made or sourced by the children.

The Bee and Bug Hotels, together with designs, will be displayed outside the Honey, Baking and Preserves Marquee, organised by Southport and District Beekeepers at the Southport Flower Show from 20th – 23rd August and will be viewed by the thousands of visitors to the show.

What you need to do

Step 1: Design your Bee and Bug Hotel

Pupils, with teachers’ support, will need to complete a design for a Bee and Bug Hotel. The school will then need to choose the entry it wishes to submit for each school year.

A drawing of the design, including a description of materials to be used on paper (max A3 size) should be submitted to Southport and District Beekeepers, this will form part of the judging process. Please include if it is designed for a particular type of bee or bug.

Your design drawing needs to include the age or school year of the designer(s), their name (if an individual) and school name. On the reverse please include the school contact details, email and telephone number, along with a parent or school representative.

Please submit your school’s designs by Friday 5th June.

Step 2: You’ll be notified if shortlisted

All designs received will be reviewed by SDBK. Two designs from each school year will be shortlisted.

If your entry/entries are shortlisted you will be contacted by the 19th June.

Step 3: Build your Bee and Bug House

Once notified that your Bee and Bug House has been shortlisted you can start to build it.

Please give thought to how the Bee and Bug Hotel will be displayed taking into consideration the possibility of wind, rain, and safety.

Step 4: Deliver your Bee and Bug House

The final completed (built) Bee and Bug Hotels need to be supplied to one of the addresses below by the 17th July. Due to school holidays, SDBK will put the shortlisted entries on display on behalf of the schools at Southport Flower Show.

THE AWARDS

The Bee and Bug Hotels will be judged on the evening before Southport Flower Show opens.

The Hotels will be scored for overall design, use of materials, appropriateness of materials, and construction.

An award will be made for the best in each school year from all the entered schools. (7 awards in total)

The top 7 will be awarded an age appropriate book and the opportunity to have a visit from members of Southport and District Beekeepers to give a live bee demonstration and talk at their school (no bees will be flying and can be observed safely).

2 overall winners will be chosen, from the top 7, and will additionally have:

Ø  Their Bee and Bug hotel displayed, year round, in the Southport and District Beekeepers bee friendly planting area in the showground (Victoria Park, Southport).

Ø  The opportunity to have a class visit to The Beatles Story museum in the centre of Liverpool, who are the sponsors of 4 hives at our Apiary. The Beatles Story, Liverpool is much more than a museum… you’re invited to embark on an incredible journey through time into the lives and music of The Beatles. (This will be organised by the team at The Beatles Story with the winning school.)

Important Notes

·   Please adhere to the final submission date of Friday 5th June for the detailed plans. These can be submitted in person or by post to:

Jeanette Dredge, Byron Cottage, 29 Wood Moss Lane, Scarisbrick, L40 9RJ

Vanessa Wakefield, The Nook, 5 Mersey Avenue, Formby, L37 7BS

Or alternatively you can also send them by email to:

jeanette.dredge@southportbeekeepers.co.uk

vanessa.wakefield@southportbeekeepers.co.uk

The completed (built) Bee and Bug Hotels will also need to be supplied to the above addresses by the 17th July.

·   If you have any questions, please email on the above contact details.