We looked at a number of charities with a similar ethos to that of the BGI and I am absolutely delighted to say that, as of yesterday afternoon, The Eden Project in Cornwall is now the proud owner of our beautiful Big Green Bus.
I have just returned to Malvern having handed the bus over to a team of amazing, enthusiastic, passionate and knowledgeable people from The Eden Project. The hand-over was obviously quite difficult and emotional (even our bus driver, Grenville, shed a few tears), but I can honestly say that the team who will be working with the bus from now on are people I would have hand picked myself to work for the BGI - if it weren't for the fact that they already have jobs they love and live in Cornwall!
We will include more information about the hand-over, plus some photos of the bus in its beautiful new home, when we publish the last of our BGI newsletters at the end of July, but I just wanted to write something now to explain why we are no longer taking bookings.
Our website will remain live for a few more months at least and we plan to move most of our newsletter articles and information sheets (only with permission from the authors) to a new home at The Green Living Forum.
Once we have closed the office in Malvern, I will be putting all my time and energy into campaigning to raise awareness of the problems facing bees. If anyone would like to book me for a ‘Bee' talk I'm available!
We will add more information to the website soon, but now that the bus has been safely handed over to The Eden Project, I can't resist stealing a line from Mr Bennet (from Pride and Prejudice) when he gave his blessing to his daughter, Lizzie, to marry Mr Darcy.....
"I could not have parted with you, my (bus), to anyone less worthy"!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has supported us over the last three years. The charity may be closing, but the Big Green Bus is just heading out on the next stage of its journey.....
]]>There are many more excellent sites that I haven't mentioned, but most of them are included in the links pages on the sites below. Many of the sites below also have book lists and excellent downloadable resource packs.
N.B......apart from the link to ‘Biobees' these links are all about Bumblebees, Solitary bees and Wildlife Gardening.
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust - http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/gardening_for_bumblebees.htm
Foxleas - http://www.foxleas.com/
Bumblebee.org - http://www.bumblebee.org/
Help Save Bees - http://www.helpsavebees.co.uk/index.html
Solitary Bees - http://www.insectpix.net/index.htm
Honeybees - http://www.biobees.com/
Further links - http://www.foxleas.com/links.htm
Seedaholic - http://www.seedaholic.com/flowers/important-bee-plant.html/
Emorsgate Seeds - http://wildseed.co.uk/
Naturescape - http://www.naturescape.co.uk/
Herbiseed - http://www.herbiseed.com/home.aspx
Brilliant video about the problem and why flowers are the answer - http://vimeo.com/11758948
I hope this helps anyone looking for information about bees and makes it easier for you to help them!
]]>Last year, on one of our outings with the Big Green Bus, we stopped at a motorway service station somewhere near Birmingham - and the verges had all been planted with native wildflowers. It was amazing! I've never seen so many bees in one place in my life...so I'm over the moon that the RSPB are launching this new campaign and will do everything I can to support them.
Full details of the campaign here.
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This is very exciting for us because the show attracts over 90,000 visitors over the 4 days, so loads of opportunity to tell people about bees, food, worms, skincare, transition movement, water, permaculture and much more besides.
We have some great talks lined up with some very interesting speakers and it has all been made possible because we have received sponsorship from two businesses whose ethics and environmental policies we really like.....Natracare and Weleda. Without this sponsorship and support we wouldn't have been able to afford the costs of attending the show so THANK YOU to both of these companies for helping us go to the show!
If you live anywhere ear Malvern (Worcestershire) do please come along and say hello. As well as our talks we will have a little green shop where we'll be selling a few things to help raise funds for the charity. Items in the shop will including some beautiful bee hotels, hand made by the lovely people at Salter's Hill .... a community of adults with learning difficulties based in Ledbury. The bee hotels are all made from natural materials and recycled wood so each one is completely local, unique and perfect for solitary bees to make their homes.
For more details about our speakers and the rest of the show see here.
]]>Kim has set herself the most incredible set of challenges to raise funds for the BGI and we are in the process of creating a ‘Justgiving' page for her and other BGI fundraisers so you can sponsor them.
Here is a link to Kim's photos...complete with lovely green fairy skirt!
If anyone would like to sponsor Kim retrospectively for her enormous achievement, or find out more about the challenges she has set herself, please check out her facebook page or email her to sponsor her.
Today's task is to find out how we can purchase a place for Kim to run for us in the London Marathon....so watch this space. It really is very exciting to have our own dedicated marathon runner!!! Thank you Kim!!! :o)
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