Community welcomes thousands of bees to Dudley

A community wellbeing garden in Dudley is preparing to welcome thousands of new residents, following a series of workshops introducing local people to bees, pollinators and the art of beekeeping.

Over recent weeks, participants at Dudley Wellbeing Garden have been working alongside local beekeeper Paul Rowlands of Rowlands Bees, learning about the important role bees play in our environment, how a colony works and what is involved in caring for a hive.
 
The workshops have taken participants through the journey towards establishing a community hive, including learning about beekeeping equipment, preparing and decorating the bees' new home and understanding how we can all play a part in supporting pollinators.
 
The final and most exciting stage is now approaching, as the live colony prepares to move into its new home at the garden.
 
The beekeeping activity forms part of the wider Dudley Wellbeing Garden & Bee Project, made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund.
 
The project is helping to further develop Dudley Wellbeing Garden as a community green space where local people can connect with nature, learn practical skills and explore the relationships between our environment, food, community and wellbeing.
 
The garden itself has been developed with sustainability at its heart, with reused and repurposed materials incorporated alongside food growing, pollinator-friendly planting and wildlife habitats.
 
While the project is providing an opportunity for people interested in beekeeping to learn more, an equally important message is that you don't need to become a beekeeper to help bees. From planting pollinator-friendly flowers to creating small habitats in gardens, balconies and community spaces, there are simple actions almost everyone can take.
 
Jenna Varndell, from the project team, said: "Welcoming the bees into the garden feels like a really exciting next chapter for us. What I've loved about the workshops is that they haven't simply been about learning how to keep bees - they've helped people understand how connected pollinators are to our food, our environment and ultimately our own wellbeing.
 
"We want the garden to be somewhere people can learn by doing, whether that's growing something, creating a habitat, learning a new skill or simply spending more time outdoors.
 
“Hopefully people following the project will also realise that they don't need their own hive to make a difference. Even small changes in the spaces around us can help give our pollinators somewhere to feed, shelter and thrive.”
 
Local beekeeper Paul Rowlands of Rowlands Bees has been sharing his knowledge throughout the workshops and will oversee the introduction and ongoing care of the colony.
 
The project team hopes the community hive will become another way for people to learn about biodiversity, food production and practical environmental action, while providing opportunities to develop skills and connect with other people.