Buzz about Bees

Amanda, bee conservationist and enthusiast has been studying bees since 2008, an interest fostered informally in childhood. She began building Buzz about Bees in August 2010. Deciding to create it because of her concern about bees, and because she believed that people can make a difference and help reverse threats and declines by planting lots of flowers in their gardens. She also loved sharing her enthusiasm for bees, and wanted to inspire others. She began raising awareness of the plight of bees in 2008, and was extremely active on Twitter from 2009, sharing links to information and organizing letter writing campaigns. Back then, there was little awareness of the problems facing bees, and about issues such as habitat loss and the impact of insecticides. There was also very little information available on-line at that time. She was one of a very small group of trail-blazing independent campaigners. The group included a few beekeepers across the world (Phil Chandler, Tom Theobald, Graham White), a retired Consultant Anaesthetist and a Dutch toxicologist. A number of supporters assisted in helping to build momentum, and almost all of them were beekeepers. It is hard to imagine now, but a number of us had to withstand significant on-line abuse, and a general disregard from decision makers. It took time to generate the momentum behind the campaign. At last, major charities came on board from 2012 onwards after the EFSA inquiry into the regulatory position and evidence around the threat of neonicotinoid insecticides to bees, and they have since helped to spread the message. Amanda writes a lot about tips to help bees, gardening for bees, and enjoy raising awareness of some less well-known solitary species. She also uses her website to help change the perception of insects such as wasps, which are mostly very valuable helpers in the garden. She particularly offers advice concerning nests, and other general queries about how people can help pollinators. Aside from doing what she could by including flowers for bees in her garden, she found that one of the most effective ways in which a difference has been created is via written letters (usually to politicians) – Many initiated by her website using social media. She also writes short, informal features for local magazines, and along with some of her independent campaigning colleagues, fed a number of important stories and items of research with the mainstream newspapers. Some of which was the result of time-consuming, background investigation work. Amanda began working with children too, every once in a while, planting pots of wild flowers and making simple bee houses, and giving talks locally to increase education and awareness around bees. Her site contains information about bumblebees, honey bees and solitary bees specifically, including information about life cycles, gardening for bees, conservation issues, as well as various articles and snippets of general ‘bee information’ which will help to answer many questions.
  • Listing ID: 3139
Contact details

96 Mowat Ave, Toronto, ON, M6K 3M1, CanadaNorth America,Global,M6K 3M1 Show phone number ***** http://www.buzzaboutbees.net

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