Bees pollinate at least one third of the food eaten, the cotton worn and many of the medicinal plants the population depend on. Yet most people have only heard of the honeybee as being important even though there are 20,000 threatened bee species worldwide.  The UK has 256 bee species many of which are endangered and are disappearing.  A talk later this week [Saturday 2 March] will explain how the general public can help the bees and people can have their gardening questions answered too.

Carlo Montesanti, Founder and Development Manager of the Bee Guardian Foundation (BGF), will highlight the importance of diverse bee conservation and action.  His talk, organised by the Friends of the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, 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 organisation 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.  The organisation aims 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.

The Gardeners’ Question Time will take place with Nick Wray, Carlo Montesanti, Mary Payne and John Addison.

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.

The talk and Gardeners’ Question Time, organised by the Friends of the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, will take place on Saturday 2 March at 7.30 pm at St Peter’s Church Hall, The Drive, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4LD.  Light refreshments and a bar will be available.

Tickets priced at £7.50 in advance or £9 on the door are available from John Leach, tel (01275) 854992 (credit/debit cards accepted) or send a cheque made payable to ‘FUBBG’ together with a SAE to Mr John Leach, 17 Ashton Crescent, Nailsea, BS48 2JR.

Further information is available from the Botanic Garden, tel 0117 331 4906 or email botanic-gardens@bristol.ac.uk