Full competition information

Wheelbarrows for Bees Competition

We would like to invite schools to enter our Wheelbarrows for Bees Competition. This competition will be open for pupils in Nursery to Year 6. This is an exciting opportunity for your school to show off your pupils’ creativity and how they plan and work together.

The Wheelbarrows will be displayed outside the Honey and Bee Marquee, organised by Southport and District Beekeepers at the Southport Flower Show from 14th – 17th August and will be viewed by the thousands of visitors to the show.

The competition is a hands-on and fun gardening activity that can be enjoyed by pupils of all levels. Pupils, with teachers’ support, will need to decide on the design of the wheelbarrow garden, what they will need to complete the design and how they will grow, nurture and care for the plants through to planting into their wheelbarrows in August. Wheelbarrows will have an approximate 65 cm x 65 cm planting area.

The gardens must be pollinator friendly and can be plants, flowers, herbs, or vegetables. Pupils can let loose their imagination, carrying out research, sharing their thoughts and ideas.  Good suggestions of varieties can be found at the web links below, but these are not exhaustive, and ideas can be found from other sources:

BBKA - https://www.bbka.org.uk/planting-for-pollinators

RHS - https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/research/plants-for-pollinators

The contents of the wheelbarrow garden could be items made or grown by the children.  Plants can be grown from seed, seedlings, cuttings or smaller plants nurtured by the children.  Schools are encouraged to nurture plants where possible, but we understand this may not be feasible and plants can be obtained from other sources. The design can be supported by props, but thought must be given to the slope of the wheelbarrow, wind, rain, safety etc. and should include the school’s name.

Details of the design, including a list of plants, display items etc. together with a drawing or plan up to A3, will need to be submitted to Southport and District Beekeepers by June 30th and will form part of the judging process. These plans will also be on display for visitors to see.

A representative from the school with a small group of up to four children will be invited to plant up the wheelbarrow on the showground on 10th or 11th August.

Southport and District Beekeepers will ensure there are wheelbarrows, lining material and growing medium available for each entry. We will also water the wheelbarrows through to the end of the show.

The wheelbarrows should be available for judging on Wednesday 13th August by 4:00pm.

THE AWARDS

There are awards available for the highest scoring wheelbarrows at the show:

1. Best Wheelbarrow – The winning school will receive a prize of £100 in vouchers, a copy of The Book of Bees, and an opportunity for members of Southport and District Beekeepers to give a live bee demonstration and talk at the school (no bees will be flying and can be observed safely).

2. Bees Choice (observation on Wednesday of the wheelbarrow garden most visited by bees) – The winning school will receive a prize of £50 in vouchers, a copy of The Book of Bees and an opportunity for 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).

We will be awarding each participating school a certificate, with a rating out of a possible five bees for their wheelbarrow garden entry.

Important Notes

•  Please send an email confirming your schools wish to enter to either of the emails below as soon as possible as spaces are limited. The email must include the School name, main contact, and confirmation of your commitment to complete the garden. Though your email must be received by 13th June.

jeanette.dredge@southportbeekeepers.co.uk

vanessa.wakefield@southportbeekeepers.co.uk

• Please adhere to the final submission date of 30th 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 (Post or in person)

Vanessa Wakefield, 5 Mersey Avenue, Formby, L37 7BS. (Post only)

•  Any questions, please email on the above contact details.