Happy World Bee Day!

World Bee Day takes place on 20th May each year, and its aim is to raise awareness of the importance of bees and beekeeping, and to inform the public of major beekeeping events around the world. Why the 20th May? Well, Anton Janša, a Slovenian beekeeper, the pioneer of modern beekeeping and one of the greatest authorities on the subject of bees was born on 20th May, 1734.

2021 marks the third international commemoration of World Bee Day. This year’s theme is: ‘Bee engaged: Build Back Better for Bees’, and it’ll focus on finding ways to help restore, support and enhance the role of the popular pollinators during a time when lots of countries continue to deal with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is urging everyone (including governments, private companies, researchers and consumers) to take action to help protect our bees!

For more information and ideas on how to help populations of many pollinators (including the honey bee, bumblebees and many thousands of solitary bee species), or to take part in this year’s events, visit www.worldbeeday.org.