Celebrating World Bee Day

Hello and welcome to your World Bee Dayminimagazine.

Here at Cosy, we share our office with 80,000bees.

That's part of why we love World Bee Day. And it's why we wanted to share thislittlemagazinewithyou.

Our hives sit on a beautiful greenfield site. It's right on the Derbyshire / Staffordshire border. We tend to our bees with love — and they keep our wildflowershappyinreturn.

Inside, you'll discover nine playful ideas for using our Cosy felt bees in your setting. Plus a step-by-step for making your own Air Bee n Bee, ready forrealbeestomovein.

WhatisWorldBeeDay?

Every year on 20th May, the world celebratesbees.

The date is the birthday of Anton Janša.Hewasan18th-centurypioneer of modern beekeeping. The United Nations chose this day to honour pollinatorseverywhere.

It's a moment to celebrate — and a moment to act. Small steps in your settingreallydoaddup.

MeettheBeeHeroes

TwobrilliantUKcharitieswork tirelesslyforbees.

TheBritishBeekeepers'Association (BBKA)haslovedbeessince1874. Theysupportmorethan30,000 amateurbeekeepersacrosstheUK.

TheBBKAfundsresearch,looksafter pollinatorhealth,andevencollects lostswarmsforfree.

They'reabrilliantfriendtoearlyyears settings,too.TheirBeeFriendly Schoolsprogrammehelpsyou welcomepollinatorsin—nohive needed.Localbranchescanevenvisit witharealobservationhivefor childrentowatchupclose.

Plantlifeisthewildflowercharity behind'NoMowMay'.Startedin2019, thecampaignasksgardensandgreen spacestoputthemowerawayeach May.Lettingwildflowersgrowtall givesourhungrypollinatorsafeast. Bothhavefreeguidesonlinetohelp yoursettingbloom.

Outdoor Bee Hunt Sensory Play

Small World Play

Fine Motor

CosyAirBeenBee

WelcometotheAirBeenBee

Most bees in the UK don't live in Theylivealone.

Solitarybeesnestinhollowstem soil and the cracks in old wood. are over 250 species of them bu aroundourgardens.Andtheynee help.

Tidygardensandtreatedtimber themshortonplacestolaytheir Abeehotelisasimplefix.Childre making them, and once they're up, they bring real pollinators into your outdoorareaforyears.

Once you ' ve got your logs, it's time to buildthehotel.

Our Pre-Drilled Logs for Bug Homes (34161) are perfect for this. Thirty logs come in a pack with the holes already neat and varied. Dry, untreated and ready to nest in, they take the workshoptimeoutoftheproject.

Stack them inside a wooden A-frame. Add a small roof to keep the rain off. Hangasignonthefront.'AirBeenBee'is ourfavourite.

Want to drill your own too? Use untreated,properlydrylogsaround10to 15cmthick.Mixtheholesizesfrom2mm to 10mm, around 10cm deep, and sand the entrances smooth. Bee wings are delicatethings.

Pop your finished hotel somewhere sunny and sheltered. South-facing is best.Thenwatchwhomovesin.