After nearly two-years of behind-the-scenes project development work, fundraising and hard graft, we can finally unveil Bees for Everyone. We wanted you - our loyal supporters - to be the first to know.
Around 12 months ago we asked you to fill in a questionnaire, and around 3,200 of you did - an amazing response. We listened, and we sincerely hope that you like the results.
Bees for Everyone is an ambitious new UK-wide project that aims to:
1) support rare bumblebees throughout the UK through active conservation work to safeguard, restore and create valuable bumblebee habitats
2) raise public awareness of the importance of bumblebees and the problems that they face, inspiring individual action
Here is a taste of some of the changes that you'll see first:
- A new look (this didn't cost hundreds of thousands of pounds and will make big a difference to the breadth of our appeal and enable us to do more to help bees)
- A new website - please enjoy exploring. There are lots of new additions, to complement the original content. Hopefully it is all much easier to navigate.
- Our Bee kind tool - get a bee-friendly score for your garden, plus recommendations for further improvements. Oh, and plot your patch on our Bee kind map of the UK. Please do this today! It will only take you a few minutes and it will put a smile on all of our faces. Prizes are on offer for the most Bee kind gardens.
- A web forum - long overdue - meet other BBCT members and volunteers, learn from one another, share experiences, make friends
- New printed materials - all new, very shiny, very readable and 100% informative
- Volunteering opportunities galore - you can really help here. We have a whole store room full of brand new awareness-raising materials. Could you put up a poster for us in a local library or garden centre? Could you hand out factsheets at a local event?
- Walks, talks and other events. Opportunities to get involved throughout the UK, with the support of a growing team of volunteers. More on this in a future e-newsletter.
- Regular updates - keep track of our conservation and outreach work through our blog, news page and social media. Unlike the old website, these will be kept up to date!
- Safe, easy, online payments - join, donate, or buy merchandise to show your support. Maybe today is the day to finally get around to joining? We are also pleased to offer online membership renewal.
Today is a busy day as we launch the project. This morning we have a launch event, supported by Richard Benyon MP, Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries.
Then this evening, watch out for our CEO (Dr. Ben) on the sofa with Alan Titchmarsh and Chris Beardshaw as part of the BBC's coverage of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show - BBC2, 8pm. It should be available on BBC iPlayer if you miss it.
As ever, thank you so much for your kind support. We couldn't do it without you.
The BBCT team.
