Bee Friendly Awards

When it comes to being Bee Friendly, there’s much more to it than simply creating wildlife areas.

Although, of course, sowing banks of wildflowers and putting up bee hotels definitely help.

In addition to new habitats to call home, bees and pollinators need Champions to fly their flag on a regular basis – raising awareness of the crucial role they play and rallying the support of all those around them.

When we launched our Bee Friendly Awards in 2021, to celebrate the bee-friendly achievements of towns and cities around the country, we were blown away by the creative initiatives and traditions that were taking place, that went above and beyond the ordinary.

Yes, they had wildflowers and bee hotels. But they also had collaborative, pollinator focused community events. There were businesses that pledged to donate to bee-supporting causes. Schools that crafted bee-themed items in class – to sell as fundraising ventures. Pubs with beer gardens planted specifically for bees. Groups of friends doing sponsored walks in aid of pollinators.

The list goes on.

We realised that being Bee Friendly is also about team spirit and working towards a united goal of future-proofing for pollinators.

So this is what the Bee Friendly Awards celebrate:

• They celebrate the habitat-forming initiatives that create new homes for wildlife.
• They showcase the collaborations that are helping to extend pollinator pathways across the nation.
• They shout about the people making positive change happen.

2022 saw Alresford (Essex), Arundel (West Sussex), Kenilworth (Warwickshire), Leek (Staffordshire), Tring (Hertfordshire) and Wimborne (Dorset) become the first towns to receive Bee Friendly status. With eight more awards granted in 2023 and nine in 2024, including villages, housing developments and stations (meet them all, below).