With bee populations declining at global level – 2% of bee colonies were wiped out in 2016 and 10% of Europe’s population is under threat – a group of Norwich residents wants to inspire global efforts to save them.
Dan Harris, a 40-year old community development worker, spent four years working on a bee saviour sugar card, which contains three sachets of sugar solution.
He consulted with his father, a scientist, and his uncle, a beekeeper, on the design, perfected with a grant from the Midcounties Co-operative Community Fund. The cards were tested with 200 pioneering Bee Saviour Citizens in the society’s trading areas.
The credit card-style reviver can be placed beside the insect to allow it to feed itself and gain energy. Handmade from old credit cards, the refillable revivers will be produced by Bee Saviour Behaviour, a not-for-profit co-operative with membership open to all. One card costs £4, with an offer of £7 for two.
Mr Harris said: “I got the idea for Bee Saviour Behaviour when I heard that a bee uses up energy really quickly and can easily run out of energy, especially in a city. A bumblebee is never more that 45 minutes from starvation.
“Then I discovered that humans can revive them with a tiny drop of sugar solution and I was thinking that this is a great opportunity to make a connection with urban wildlife. In the UK four out of five children don’t have enough connection to nature. So I wanted to design a way to carry sugar solution so that anyone could revive a bee and feel a stronger connection to nature.”
The crowdfunding campaign to support the initiative has already raised over £26,000 with backing from 1,900 people. Around 300 of them have also expressed interest in becoming members of the multi-stakeholder co-operative.
“The crowdfunding campaign runs until 23 May. People can support us in this campaign and we will send them a reward, which includes a Bee Saviour Card. Crowdfunding seemed like the logical approach to take because we want to build a community of Bee Saviour Citizens,” said Mr Harris.
Some of the money raised will be used to buy equipment to develop new bee-friendly initiatives and educational resources to support the local community.
“It is true that reviving one bee with sugar solution isn’t going to change the global situation for bees,” added Mr Harris. “ What the Bee Saviour Card gives people is a personal connection to their local bees, gives them more awareness and gives them a story to tell about saving a bee. We believe this will motivate them to make other lifestyle changes to the way they use their garden, support campaigns to change government policy and things like this that will have an impact on global bee populations.
We want to build a community of Bee Saviour Citizens who want to fight to change the world for bees.”
Local people who have joined the project hope Norwich will become a pioneer of bee-friendly cities.
“It’s important in any small town and city to connect with people with same ethos,” said Mr Harris.
Nick Milton, communications manager at Midcounties, who is looks after a hive of honey bees at the society’s head office, said: “Bees are great examples of co-operation but are in serious decline. To help them we are proud to sponsor the Bee Saviour Sugar Card. At Midcounties’ head office we have installed a hive of honey bees who recently swarmed so we now have two hives of honey bees.
“We would encourage anyone who is interested in keeping bees to contact their local beekeepers association. Details are available from the British Keepers Association. However, everyone can help bees simply by planting wildflowers or setting aside a wild area for bees in their garden.”
