Winchester Visitor Information Centre is celebrating World Bee Day!

World Bee Day takes place on Thursday 20 May 2021 and aims to spread awareness of the importance of bees.

A third of the world’s food production depends on bees. Bees pollinate 75% of the leading global crops in the entire world. This includes oil seed rape, apples, soft fruit, beans and tomatoes.

The honey they produce is used in a variety of food products in addition to a variety of skin care and luxury products.

How many ‘Buzz facts’ about bees do you know?

(fill in the missing words)

• Bees have ——– eyes and ——- legs.
• Male bees are called ———.
• All worker bees are ———–.
• An average beehive can hold approximately ———– bees.
• In her lifetime a bee produces how much honey? ————–.

Discover the answers here.

What can you do to support bees in your area?

There are a variety of ways through which you can support bees and their vital work.

This includes:

• Planting bee-welcoming plants like daisies, red clover and heather in your garden.
• Leaving sections of your garden to grow wild. Long grass gives the bees a place to shelter from the rain or bright sunshine.
• Leaving a small dish of water in the garden for a thirsty bee. Placing a few pebbles in it can provide a surface for bees the bees to balance on.
• Don’t use pesticides as they are harmful to bees.
• Buy honey and other bee products from your local beekeepers.

Winchester Visitor Information Centre is celebrating World Bee Day this year between 19 – 23 May.

Please visit the centre between 10am – 4pm (3pm on Sunday) to help us celebrate.

During your visit you will be able to find out the answers to the quiz questions, browse and purchase honey and skin care products from our new exciting ranges. These have been specially chosen to support local beekeepers and manufacturers of ‘bee related’ products and include:

• Pure Orchard honey. Produced by local Winchester bees. Pat has kindly leant us a hive to help us celebrate!
• Mrs B’s Honey – A Small family business and beekeepers first and foremost. They harvest honey which is surplus to the bee’s requirements.
• Bee good skin products started life to help bees thrive. They are proud that their products are almost 100% natural. Honey, propolis and beeswax have been used for thousands of years to heal and protect the skin and these natural, soothing ingredients for even the most sensitive of skin types. This has been embraced within their products to create a range of natural products which make ideal gifts or treats for yourself.
• Chalice Mead. Mead is an alcoholic drink made of fermented honey and water. It is known to be the oldest alcoholic drink in the United Kingdom. Chalice mead is produced using honey made by bees in a 3 acre beautiful woodland just outside a village in the South Downs. Part of this woodland has been left to flourish naturally to encourage bees to pollinate the wild flowers as they grow. The basic recipe for mead is honey, water and yeast. This has been infused with a variety of other ingredients to produce the range of Chalice meads stocked in the visitor information centre. Select from original, elderflower, rhubarb, blackberry or why not be tempted to try the chocolate or caramel mead!
• Lavender Fields Hampshire. Lavender is loved by bees! Come and buy our range of lavender products from a local lavender farm set in Hampshire.