Bee Friendly Planted Verges at New Malden Station and Open Design Call

(Images courtesy of the British Beekeeping Association)

The Community Brain has been inspired by these images of Rotherham, where the council has planted 8 miles of wild flower verges! Not only do these verges improves forage for bees, they are attractive on the eye, smell beautiful and save on mowing costs!

In September we will be planting bee friendly verges at New Malden Station, either side of the new GoCycle route to Raynes Park. We are looking for volunteers to help plant out UK native flowers, which are rich in pollen and nectar, to help support bees in Kingston.

Community Planting Dates:

- Saturday 7 September, 12pm - 3pm

- Saturday 21 September, 12pm - 3pm

Join us in September to help plant two bee friendly verges at the entrance of the new GoCycle route to Raynes Park. Planting focuses on UK native flowers, which are rich in pollen and nectar, helping to support Kingston's bees.

To sign up for either of the community planting dates please email charlotte@thecommunitybrain.org

Open Design Call - BeeSplay Interactive Display

As part of the bee friendly 'BeeLines Pocket Park', we also want your ideas for a new interactive display.

What would you like to see installed in the six empty ‘hive cells’? Bug hotels, art displays and a mini library are some thoughts so far and we welcome experimental and innovative ideas!

We are also asking for drawings of your favourite bee friendly flowers. A selection of these will be engraved into the 'Flower Cell' and your name credited on the display.

Please send your ideas for the hive cells, and drawings of your favourite bee friendly flowers, to georgia@thecommunitybrain.org by Saturday 27th July. Selected entries for both categories will be chosen by a panel, including Keith McMahon of Kingston Beekeepers Association, and will be announced via The Community Brain Facebook page @communitybrain in early August.

On Friday 14th June The Community Brain joined forces with Sustrans and Kingston Beekeeper's Association to talk to 120 school children at Christ Church Primary, in New Malden, and West Wimbledon Primary, in Raynes Park.

Topics covered included the importance of bees as pollinators and planting to support bees, in addition to ideas for the interactive display and new nature trail features which Sustrans will be installing along the New Malden to Raynes Park GoCycle route in July.

The Community Brain would like to say a massive thank you to Keith McMahon, who has worked tirelessly to educate on bees in the Kingston area over the past several years.

Our joint bee talks and flower seedball making workshops have now reached over 250 children, across 4 primary schools in the borough, and we look forward to sharing a SHEDx flower seedball making marquee with Keith at the official GoCycle route opening event on Saturday 13th July, details of which will shortly be published by the Kingston GoCycle team.