Buzzing over festival triumph
I AM still reeling from the amazing Manchester Festival of Nature which we helped to organise at Heaton Park.
More than 7,000 of you came along to say hello and take part in a number of activities on a baking hot day and more than 500 of you and two dogs dressed up as bees to highlight the plight of our most popular insect and the logo for nature in Manchester.
I was on my feet for about 12 hours, wearing a number of different costumes and at least four hats and a bee hoodie.
That day proved two things to me.
Firstly, that thousands of parents get the message that their children should be outdoors for their health, well-being and education: Heaton Park is a glorious place for families and, if you want something a bit wilder and untamed, come to one of the Wildlife Trust nature reserves.
Secondly, the message that the environment is in danger is hitting home and those families who visited the festival actually ‘get it’.
They want the wildlife that they see today to be around for their children.
Bumblebees were the main characters in the festival with 500 people dressing up for a bee parade and during the festivities many real bees were spotted around the park.
You see it’s all part of our masterplan to draw attention to the plight of our wildlife and our pollinating insects are a vital part of the circle of life
More than a third of the food we eat depends on pollinators doing their jobs in fields and meadows, so it does mean something.
My favourite bee by far is the tree bumblebee, which only arrived in the UK in 2001.
I first realised it was there when a gang nested in my mum’s birdbox in Worsley.
It is a cute little fellow being mainly black, but with a fuzzy brown and orange ‘wig’ on its back.
A proper little character.
You will see it on a wide range of flowers, particularly those of soft fruits, such as raspberries and blackberries, emerging from hibernation early in the spring, February or early March.
Males are seen in late May and June and adults can still be seen in late autumn if nests have a second generation.
I witnessed a most amazing thing when, on a really warm day, all the worker bees sat on the outside of a birdbox and flapped their wings. Why? They were keeping their queen cool in the heat.
I was reminded of this community spirit at #MFoN.
The place was buzzing with people and they all had smiles on their faces.
With all the environmentally conscious young people there on the day, maybe the world is in safe hands after all.
To support the work . of the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. Text WILD09 with the amount you want to donate to 70070.
For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust. org.uk.