World Bee Day events for healthy bees! May 17th-20th 2024

World Bee Day is on 20 May, however it’s all happening here in Canberra on the weekend of 17-19 May.  This year’s theme is “Bee Engaged with Youth”, recognising the importance of involving young people in beekeeping and pollinator conservation efforts.

With that in mind, our main activity at the Belgian Embassy on Sunday, 19 May, from 11am will have a great day of family focussed activities and information and honey produce stalls.  For more information about the be.Fair see HERE

Details of all events are on the World Bee Day Australia website.

In Canberra and Region

Crace Landcare World Bee Day event

When: Saturday 18 May, 10:00am-12:00pm
Where: Crace Supabarn Farmer’s Market, Abena Avenue, Crace
Free face painting, craft table & succulent pot making for kids. Bee Hotel demo stall. Free pollinator-friendly plants stall. Build a mini bee hotel from recycled materials. ‘Pollinators at my place’ info stall. Further details are on the World Bee Day Australia website.
 

Sweet like Honey: Masterclass in Creating Bee-Friendly Environments

When: Saturday 18 May, 10:00am-11:00am
Where: Australian Parliament House
Join Australian Parliament House’s Head Beekeeper, Cormac Farrell, for a masterclass exploring how a region’s diverse botanical sources create unique flavours in honey.  Discover how to integrate native and honeybees into landscape design by selecting native and exotic plants, with reference to the Parliament Gardens as an example of a vibrant bee-friendly city. Indulge in a tasting experience as you try honey sourced from across Canberra’s urban spaces. Including honey and honeycomb made by the busy Parliament House bees. This 1-hour indoor masterclass is suited for beekeepers and gardeners interested in creating bee-friendly hubs, both in their own gardens and in local areas. Book HERE
 

The Embassy of Switzerland’s World Bee Day “Honeyland” film screening

When: Saturday 18 May, 5:00pm-6:30pm
Where: Australian National University
Enjoy watching “Honeyland,” a captivating journey into the world of beekeeping. This eye-opening documentary follows Hatidze, a remarkable woman preserving traditional bee keeping. Followed by a small reception. Register HERE
 

The Belgian Embassy .beFAIR 

When: Sunday, 19 May, 11:00am-3:00pm
The Belgian Embassy will open its gates to celebrate World Bee Day with young and old! Put on a beekeeper suit and discover everything there is to know about bees on one of the guided beehive tours; dance and sing with Johnny Huckle and the Royal Belgian Conspiracy. Stroll around our market or picnic on the lawn with friends and family, enjoying the delicious food and drinks our Embassy and some of our European colleagues have on offer or head to the Ambassador’s residence for a screening of one of Maya the Bee’s exciting films. Plenty to discover for a fun day out, all while helping us support Ukrainian Beekeepers struggling to make a living due to the war. More information HERE
 

BnB Varroa Warriors

When: Sunday 19 May, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Where: Orange Agricultural Institute – Training Centre, 1447 Forest Rd, Orange NSW
We will launch a new initiative that will bring together beekeepers from local clubs to network and share their experiences. This initiative will eventually incorporate online and face-to-face events and conversations. As we move into unknown territory with Varroa management, the purpose of the initiative is to learn as much as we can about the Varroa mite and to ensure that we consider the ‘bees’
in our choices. We will engage with bee experts, academics, and various institutions and government departments to learn as much as we can. This is a chance for you to share your thoughts. Book HERE