Bees pollinate at least one third of the food we eat, the cotton we wear and many of the medicinal plants on which we depend. Yet most people have only heard of the honeybee as being important. The honeybee is only one of 20,000 threatened bee species worldwide. We currently have 256 bee species within the UK many of which are threatened and are disappearing.

Carlo Montesanti, Founder and Development Manager of the Bee Guardian Foundation (BGF), is coming to Bristol to explain, in a highly entertaining way, how we can all help the bees and our world. His talk will be followed by a Gardeners’ Question Time, led by Botanic Garden Curator, Nick Wray.

Within one year of setting up BGF, Carlo had been awarded Gloucestershire Green Champion of 2010, and was standing in front of a 350 capacity sold-out talk to open the Cheltenham Science Festival 2010, speaking about the importance of diverse bee conservation and action. He recently went on a research field trip through the American continent from New York to Galapagos meeting the world leading entomologists and conservationists.

The BGF, a non-profit organization established in 2009, works creatively, using the co-founders’ skills in science, art, music and dance to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining and protecting bee and pollinator diversity, and to inspire individuals, whole communities, businesses, schools, universities and councils  to work together as “Bee Guardians” (BG) to protect and enhance these essential pollinators and the environment that supports them. Bee Guardians make a commitment to manage land in a bee-friendly way by not using pesticides, creating nesting sites, planting bee-friendly plants, learning more about bees and spreading the word. http://www.beeguardianfoundation.org/

The Gardeners’ Question Time will take place with Nick Wray, Carlo Montesanti, Mary Payne and John Addison following refreshments. Nick Wray, Fellow of the Institute of Horticulture, is Curator of the University of Bristol Botanic Garden and an RHS Chelsea Flower Show Judge. Mary Payne MBE, Somerset's celebrated horticulturalist, lecturer and garden designer, is a double Chelsea and Hampton Court gold medal winner.  John Addison is an expert horticulturalist and, previously, Manager for Horticulture, Cannington College, Somerset.

Venue: St.Peter’s Church Hall, The Drive, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4LD

Tickets £7.50 in advance, £9.00 on door. Light refreshments and bar. Contact: John Leach, 17 Ashton Crescent, Nailsea BS48 2JR. Tel: 01275 854992. Credit/debit cards accepted. Cheques payable to ‘FUBBG.’ Please enclose an SAE. Further information: www.bristol.ac.uk/botanic-garden. 0117 331 4906