ONLINE TALK: Dancing with Bees: A Journey Back to Nature

recorded on Wednesday 10 February 2021

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An online talk with Brigit Strawbridge Howard wildlife gardener, naturalist, and advocate of bees.

Based in North Dorset, Brigit writes and campaigns to raise awareness of the importance and diversity of native wild bees and other pollinating insects. Her debut book, Dancing with Bees: A Journey Back to Nature, documents the story of how her interest in bees led to her rediscovering her childhood love of the natural world.

Planet Earth is home to more than 20,000 different species of bee; as diverse in size and appearance, as they are in behaviour, life-cycles, and habitat requirements. Around 280 of these bee species can be found in Britain & Ireland.

Brigit explained some of the basic differences between honeybees, bumblebees, and solitary bees, including their roles as pollinators, and their myriad relationships with flowering plants. Along the way she introduces some of her favourite species, such as the aptly named Hairy-footed Flower bee, and snail-shell nesting Osmia bees – whose behaviour and life-cycles are as fascinating as they are endearing. This talk also touches on bee decline, and, most important, advises how we can all help these wondrous insects by creating more pollinator-friendly gardens and habitats for them.

Part of series of Active Environmentalism online events and talks.