Protecting Bees
Supporting Local Businesses and Protecting the Environment
At Plan Bees, we believe it’s time to give back to local businesses, our rich industrial heritage, and the natural environment that sustains us all. Plan Bees was born from the urgent need to protect our planet, uplift local communities, and ensure future generations can prosper. Guided by the three pillars of Protect, Prosper and Bloom, our mission is to make a lasting impact on both people and the planet.
Protect: Safeguarding Our Bees and Ecosystems
Bees are vital pollinators, essential for the growth of fruits, vegetables, and countless other crops. Yet their numbers are under threat. Plan Bees is dedicated to protecting these indispensable creatures by supporting small businesses such as beekeepers, hedge-layers, and artisans who care for our environment.
When we protect bees, we’re also protecting:
- Local ecosystems that depend on pollination.
- Families and communities relying on sustainable, nature-driven industries.
- The delicate balance of our natural world that supports food production and biodiversity.
Prosper: Building a Greener Future for Manchester and Beyond
From its industrial roots, Manchester has always been a city of innovation and resilience. Plan Bees is proud to carry this legacy forward, supporting local businesses while forging a sustainable future. Key initiatives include:
- Restoring rural hedgerows to maintain wildlife corridors.
- Encouraging urban-rural connections that highlight the importance of pollinators.
- Celebrating Manchester’s industrial heritage with a bold, iconic project.
Bloom: Helping Communities and Nature Thrive
Plan Bees is about more than supporting the environment, it’s about building thriving communities. By fostering partnerships with local businesses, we aim to:
- Empower small enterprises to create jobs and sustain traditional skills.
- Enhance rural landscapes with hedgerows and wildflower planting to support wildlife.
- Build sustainable habitats that help bees and other species flourish.
We’re creating a ripple effect, helping communities bloom while strengthening ecosystems critical to our planet’s health.
The Manchester Bee Sculpture: A Symbol of Hope and Action
At the heart of Plan Bees is a stunning twelve-foot sculpture made of 20,000 individually crafted Sterling Silver Bees. Each bee represents a commitment to protecting our environment and fostering community pride.
- Personalised Connection: Every Sterling Silver Bee will be engraved and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, making it uniquely yours.
- A Lasting Legacy: The sculpture symbolises Manchester’s history, celebrates its future, and supports a greener planet.
Give the Gift of a Bee: Support the Movement
When you purchase a Sterling Silver Bee for yourself, a loved one, or your business, you’re joining a movement that’s making a tangible difference. Every bee added to the sculpture contributes to:
- Protecting the environment.
- Supporting local businesses.
- Raising awareness about the importance of pollinators.
Be part of something bigger. Celebrate Manchester’s legacy, protect the planet, and leave a lasting impact.
Buy Your Bee Today and help us build a brighter, greener future for Manchester and beyond.
How to Protect Bees and Help Them Thrive
Bees are essential to our planet’s health and play a critical role in pollinating the crops and plants that sustain life. However, they need our help to survive. By creating bee-friendly spaces and making environmentally conscious choices, you can support these vital pollinators. Here’s how:
1. Provide Food: Nourish Bees Year-Round
Bees rely on flowers rich in nectar and pollen as their primary food source. To help:
- Plant a Variety of Flowers: Ensure blooms throughout the year by planting flowers that thrive in spring, summer, autumn, and even winter.
- Choose Different Shapes: Bees have varying tongue lengths, so a diverse selection of flower shapes ensures all species can feed effectively.
- Focus on Native Plants: Opt for plants native to your region, as they provide the most suitable nutrition for local bees.
2. Say No to Pesticides
Pesticides are harmful to bees and other essential insects. Protect their health by:
- Avoiding pesticides in your garden wherever possible.
- Choosing natural alternatives for pest control.
- Supporting sustainable agriculture by purchasing organic produce and advocating for eco-friendly farming practices.
Reducing pesticide use not only helps bees but also improves the health of entire ecosystems.
3. Offer Shelter: Create Safe Spaces for Bees
Bees need safe places to rest, nest, and thrive. You can provide shelter by:
- Adding a Bee Hotel: Insect houses or bee hotels offer a safe haven for solitary bees.
- Planting Bushes and Hedgerows: These natural habitats provide bees with protection and nesting opportunities.
- Letting Your Lawn Grow Wild: Allow parts of your garden to grow freely, encouraging wildflowers and creating a natural refuge for pollinators.
Make Your Garden a Bee Haven
By focusing on food, avoiding pesticides, and creating shelter, you’re giving bees the tools they need to thrive. A bee-friendly garden not only supports pollinators but also enhances biodiversity and contributes to a healthier planet.
Take action today: start small, and watch the difference you can make for these vital creatures.
Bee flowering plants by season:
Spring
Shrubs and Trees – Pussy Willow
Shrubs and Trees – Apple or Crabapple
Flowers – Lungwort
Flowers – Crocus
Herbs – Marjoram
Fruit & Veg – Kale
Wildflowers – Cowslip
Wildflowers – Comfrey
Summer
Shrubs and Trees – Lavender
Shrubs and Trees – Hawthorne
Flowers – Monarda
Flowers – Phacelia
Herbs – Chives
Fruit & Veg – Strawberry
Wildflowers – Vipers Bugloss
Wildflowers – Wood Forget-me-not
Autumn
Shrubs and Trees – Abelia
Shrubs and Trees – Honeysuckle
Flowers – Sedum
Flowers – Perrenial Wallflower
Herbs – Sage
Fruit & Veg – Runner/Broad beans
Wildflowers – White Deadnettle
Wildflowers – Yarrow
Winter
Shrubs and Trees – Mahonia
Shrubs and Trees – Ivy
Flowers – Winter aconite
Flowers – Snowdrop
Herbs – Rosemary
Fruit & Veg – Rasberry
Wildflowers – Lesser celandine
Wildflowers – Field speedwella
Saving bees
Bee sculpture
Connect to the Hive
