Buzzing into Spring

Welcome to our Spring newsletter, which is full of news about past events and upcoming ones!

Still buzzing from all the Winter activities!

In June, Julie was part of a panel hosted by the Ginninderry Conservation Trust showcasing the work of artist Sharon Field.  At the end of 2021 and in response to the IPCC Report, Sharon decided to do a drawing or painting every day until 2030.  That’s 3000 works of art.  The workshop at Ginninderry was an opportunity to look at the progress of Sharon’s artwork as well as discuss ways in which we can individually address climate change.  Julie led discussions on the importance of pollinators for biodiversity and ecosystem health as well as food security.  You can find out more about Sharon’s art here.

Sharon Field’s extraordinary artwork

Julie also spoke about Planting for Pollinators at the Ginninderry Research Showcase where 30 researchers presented their studies on topics including Conservation and celebration of Heritage and Culture, Trees and the animals that use them, Aquatic ecosystems, Ecological restoration and conservation of biodiversity and Urban Design and community. It was a fascinating overview of such a diversity of projects The Research posters will be on the Ginninderry website.

A few of the ACT for Bees + team John, Julie, Matt and Lynne who joined the Ginninderry research evening.

Julie has been on a buzzing adventure, teaching classrooms how to become bee guardians and planting for native bees during an action-packed Science Week! She’s brought the excitement to schools and preschools across Canberra, inspiring young minds with the wonders of bees. The fun reached new heights at Queanbeyan Palerang Library, where Storytime turned into a hive of activity! Children, dressed as adorable bees, buzzed around the library, “pollinating” apple blossoms, and crafting native bees from Banksia and Casuarina cones. The whole place was alive with the magic of bees!

Julie presenting to year 5 & 6 students as part of Science Week 

We’re excited to announce a range of events this Spring! Keep an eye on our website for updates and help spread the word about the importance of bees and other pollinators by sharing our events on Facebook and in your newsletters.

Best wishes
Julie, Vicki, Mark, Lynne, John, Didi, Matt and Charlie
The ACT for Bees + Other Pollinators team.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Landcare Festival of Nature
until 30th November

Landcare is once again celebrating Spring with the Festival of Nature. There will be a wide variety of activities over the period, so make sure tat you check out the calendar of events on the Landcare website.

Molonglo Catchment Group
Sunday 22^nd Sept 11am-1pm
Ruth Park Playground,  Edgeworth Parade Coombs

Come and see what the Friends of Molonglo Green Spaces do for our local community and environment and learn how you can become involved too!
There will be a display featuring resources and information about conservation efforts and community projects, activities, special guests, some sweet treats and native plants to take home!

Senior Moments @ Queanbeyan Palerang Library
Bee and Pollinator Friendly Gardens
Tuesday 24th September 10am-12pm
275 Crawford St Queanbeyan NSW

Join Julie Armstrong to learn all about bees and the vital role they play in pollination and food production. Come and learn what to plant for our wonderful local Australian native bees and see if you’ve spotted any of them in your garden or neighbourhood. Following the talk morning tea will be provided. Senior Moments offers activities, crafts, games, guest speakers every month. If you’re a senior looking to meet new friends, or just have fun with old ones. Free- Book HERE

Canberra Environment Centre
Create a garden to attract & feed pollinators
Saturday 28th September 1:30pm-3:30pm                                               
Gungaderra Homestead, Harrison

Join Charlie Blumer and Mark Paterson from ACT for Bees for a buzzing workshop on bees, butterflies and more! You will learn ways to attract, maintain and grow your relationship with earth’s pollinators, walking away with the knowledge of pollinators’ preferences and all you need to create your own bountiful garden in no time. We will get our hands dirty planting out a native garden to attract and feed pollinators, followed by taking home your own plant and planting guide to start your own pollinator journey. Let’s protect and grow our way into a resilient future for our pollinators. Book HERE

Environmental Education NSW conference
‘Learning for Change’
Wednesday 9th – Friday 11th October
Albury NSW

The topics for 2024 include wellbeing and resilience, agriculture as a climate and nature repair solution, social justice, designing learning for change and active hope.
Julie Armstrong will be presenting ‘Inspiring Curriculum Resources for Teaching Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture in Schools’, bringing together Kate Spry’s ‘The Soil Story- the Road to Regenerative Agriculture’ curriculum, The Regen Hub’s ‘Rachel’s Farm’ Senior curriculum and the ACT for Bees ‘Love Food? Love Bees! Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture Years 9/10’ curriculum, Book HERE

Growing Friends Spring 2024 Native Plant Sale –
Saturday 12 October 9:00-11:00 (unless sold out earlier)
Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross St, Acton

Hundreds of groundcovers, small and large shrubs and trees will be available for the discerning native plant lover. All plants will be sold for only $6 a pot.
All plants are propagated from cuttings or seeds sourced from within the Gardens. A full list of plants will be available on the website closer to the sale.
Sales will be by card only. All proceeds go to the Friends to support the Gardens.

ACT Community Gardens Gathering
Saturday 12th October 
Canberra City Farm 2 Dairy Rd Fyshwick

Lucy Ridge from the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance will speak about the important role community gardens play in a secure food future. There will be stalls to enjoy, workshops and demonstrations from sponsors , a session on social media hacks for your garden and an afternoon of open space workshops. Book here

Canberra Environment Centre
Create a garden to attract & feed pollinators
Wednesday 16th October 6-7pm ONLINE workshop

Creating a garden to attract and feed pollinators like bees requires not only the right plants but also healthy soil to support plant growth and provide the nutrients bees rely on. Join Julie and Fiona to learn how to create gardens where bees and other pollinators thrive! Book HERE

Murrumbateman Field Days
Native Bees Need You: How Planting on Farms & in Gardens Helps Support Vital Pollinators
Sunday 20th October 11am or 2pm- TBC
Murrumbateman Landcare Group stand
Recreation Grounds Murrumbateman

The Field Days (19th & 20th October) showcase >300 exhibitors catering to everyone from large-scale farmers and agribusiness to hobby farmers, rural lifestyle enthusiasts, the tree changers catering to everyone from large-scale farmers and agri-businesses to hobby farmers, rural lifestyle enthusiasts, and tree-changers. Visitors can enjoy a diverse range of exhibits, including tractors, farm machinery, house building equipment, and livestock. Tickets

Kambah COGS (Canberra Organic Growers) Open Day
Saturday 2nd November 10am -3pm
Corner of Springbett Street and O’Halloran Circuit, Kambah

Visitors will have a chance to inspect over 40 plots and a common herb garden and flowerbed.  We’ll have our popular plant and seedling stall, with plants aplenty for sale, ornamental as well as edible, all grown by our garden members . Packets of green manure seed to revitalise your soil will also be on sale. ACT for Bees, Seed Savers, the Southern ACT Catchment Group and SEE Change will be among gardening-related stallholders on the day. Australian Pollinator Week 9-17 November 
To get ready for this important event why not take the QUIZ to see how well you know our pollinators. For happy snappers, the Photography competition will open on 23rd September and close at the end October, so get your snaps in. As they say, “you’ve got to be in it, to win it!” 
Keep an eye on our website for details of events in Canberra and the ACT region. 

Celebrate Australian Pollinator Week by mapping biodiversity in your school. Saturday 9th November 1pm-4pm
Canberra City Farm 

We’re thrilled to have Michael Mulvaney from Canberra Nature Map with us to demonstrate how they’re working with schools to inspire students and teachers to engage with Canberra Nature Map and Citizen Science surveys.We’ll also be doing a Wild Pollinator Count and providing a tutorial on how to upload your images to Canberra Nature Map. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn and contribute to pollinator conservation! Book HERE

ACT for Bees AGM

ACT for Bees First ever Annual General Meeting
Wednesday 23rd October 5:30pm

ACT for Bees was incorporated last year and we mark this important milestone with our first Annual General Meeting.  In addition to a review of the year that has been we plan to celebrate the significant achievements made by ACT for Bees over the last decade and celebrate with all of you who have joined us on this journey.  Further details to be provided so stay tuned!

Interesting Links

This wonderful resource from the Molonglo Conservation Group, is sure to be a winner with primary school aged children.Species in the Suburbs: A colouring guide to habitat connectivity in the Australian Capital TerritoryTeacher Resource and Activity Booklet

A report by the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists outlines how repairing Australia’s landscapes is achievable, with an investment of $7 billion annually which is about 0.3% of our GDP and a fraction of the $33 billion we spend on our pets each year.

The ACF recently released a report “The Future of Food:  Are Australian Companies Failing Nature”.  The report examined 20 food companies against 37 indicators of sustainable practice. The results were sobering.  You can download the full report from the ACF website.

The ABC recently reported on an article in the journal Nature Communications on how air pollution adversely affects pollination – by up to 40%.

In local news, Canberra beekeepers have developed insulated hives to keep their bees warm in winter.

A few interesting books….