Australian Pollinator Week news & events

Buzz Across Borders: Cormac’s Hive Tales from the Hill

May 9, 2025

February 2025 – late summer

March 7, 2025

Welcome to our late Summer newsletter

Strategic Plan & Collaboration with ACT Government

We’ve started this year by focusing on our Strategic Plan, particularly in collaborating with ACT Environment Minister Suzanne Orr. Since the Nature in Our City Inquiry in 2018, she has supported our efforts to establish ACT as a Bee and Pollinator-Friendly Territory—promoting climate resilience, food security, and biodiversity.

Support Our Work

We invite you to support our initiatives by becoming a member:

$10 (waged)
$5 (unwaged)

Additionally, we have exciting projects and events this year, and we welcome volunteers! To become a member or volunteer, please email info.actforbees@gmail.com for the membership form.

Urban Design & Pollinators Collaboration

For years, we’ve partnered with Ginninderry to promote pollinator-friendly urban design. Last year, we participated in their Research Hub Presentation Evening, where researchers shared insights on topics such as:

Landscaping’s impact on the urban heat island
Conditioned taste aversion in foxes
Tracking and mapping eastern brown snakes
Exploring fantastic frogs at Ginninderry

Exciting success with ‘ACT for Bees Love food? Love Bees! Curriculum Resources

We’re thrilled to announce that our Australian curriculum-aligned resources for Early Learning, Years 5/6, and Years 9/10 have reached over 1 million students! Educators, please use and share these valuable resources with your students.

Further information HERE.

Australian Native Bee Planner 2025

Now is the perfect time for native bee spotting, as these incredible pollinators are in abundance! You can celebrate them by purchasing the Australian Native Bees 2025 Family Planner, a beautiful calendar created by native bee researcher Megan Halcroft and graphic designer Lisa Warman.

What makes this calendar special?
🐝 Highlights native bee diversity, nesting habits & pollination techniques
📷 Features stunning photography of different bee species and their favourite flowers
🎥 Includes QR codes linking to videos & resources (e.g., how to create a bee hotel!)
🗓️ Family-friendly planner format with five columns for easy scheduling

📌 Pricing & Ordering

1 calendar: $21.95
2 calendars: $35.95 (including postage)

To order, email lisawarman72@icloud.com

Would you like to try delicious homegrown teas from your garden?

Pip magazine has a wonderful array of ways to preserve the essence of summer including Lemon balm, Lemon verbena, Chamomile, Strawberry leaf and more!
More HERE.

Best wishes
Julie, Mark, Vicki, John, Didi, Charlie & Jon
The ACT for Bees + Other Pollinators team.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Canberra City Farm Open Day Sunday March 3^rd 10am-2pm

This Sunday March 3^rd we will be at the Canberra City Farm Open Day 10am-2pm. Come an learn about this thriving organically managed community farm next to the Jerrabomberra Wetlands Dairy Flat Rd, Fyshwick, and what plants are best for bees and other pollinators, seed saving, composting tips and more! Visit the Canberra City Farm website for details.

“Gardens’ Growing Friends Autumn native plant sale

Saturday, 8 March 2025 – Starts 9.00am (and typically sells out before 10.00am)

Hundreds of plants, including groundcovers, grasses and shrubs, will be on sale from the car park between the Banksia Centre and the Crosbie Morrison Building. Sales are by card only, and pots are all $6. Discerning native plant lovers will be able to choose the right plant for their garden, courtyard or balcony from the list available on the ANBG website prior to the sale. Plants are propagated by Growing Friends from cuttings or seeds sourced from within the Gardens, and all proceeds help support the Gardens.

Be early as plants sell out fast!”

A few interesting books for adults….

Living with Wildlife by Tanya Loos

Tanya Loos explores commonly asked questions and issues about encounters with wildlife in our cities. Taking a wildlife-friendly approach, advice and solutions are based on current guidance from wildlife rescue organisations and the latest research.

‘Living with Wildlife’ features helpful advice on wildlife rescue, both for every day and during extreme weather events, as well as common issues such as feeding wildlife, pets and driving. As urbanisation and climate change effects intensify,

Australian wildlife need our help now more than ever, making this a timely guide for successfully living alongside our wild neighbours.

Juice by Tim Winton

Juice’ is Tim Winton’s first novel in six years and is about a world after climate change. Writing in The Monthy, Winton said: “All I did was to allow myself — force myself, if I’m honest — to imagine the existence my grandchildren’s grandchildren might be fated to live. The conditions they’re likely to endure in the very landscape I inhabit now.”

It’s a compelling book, a real page-turner despite its dark theme.
A must read!

The Thinning by Inga Simpson

A powerful literary page-turner about two young people in a race against time to reach a monumental solar eclipse, from famed Australian novelist Inga Simpson.

The Thinning blurs the lines between animal, human and adaptation, and provides a gripping glimpse of our possible future through a fascinating astrological lens.

An emotional tribute to the natural world.

…and some great books for children

The Bee Squad by Judy Friedlander

Dr Judy Friedlander is the founder of PlantingSeeds Projects, the environmental organisation whose flagship program is the B&B Highway. The B&B Highway (Bed and Breakfasts for Bees, Birds and Biodiversity) is an educational and practical program that links hundreds of B&Bs at schools in four Australian states to form regenerative corridors.

This book draws from the programme and includes fun projects to allow kids to become champions of biodiversity.

Costa’s Garden by Costa Georgiadis

This book by Australia’s favourite garden gnome is designed for younger readers. As Costa says, “Flowers are the part of a plant that smiles. Flowers make us smile too!” In this gorgeous book, Costa shares the joy and wonder of the natural world with young readers. The book is beautifully illustrated by Brenna Quinlan and published by ABC Books

Wild Words by Meghan Lindsay

Wild Words: An Illustrated Dictionary of Scientific Terms” is aimed at upper primary and above students.

The book transforms complex scientific terms into a visual feast. It showcases a rich tapestry of Australian biological and zoological wonders through vivid illustrations and captivating photographs, making learning an exciting adventure for younger minds.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work, the Ngunnawal and recognise any other people and families with connection to these lands and region. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

We recognise the impact of climate change and increasing urbanisation on biodiversity. It is now even more important for us to plant and maintain our urban gardens and parklands to protect our bees, butterflies, birds and local wildlife. Go to actforbees.org for more information.