Leamington Spa has officially joined Warwick and Kenilworth in becoming a Bee Friendly Town, receiving recognition from the Bee Friendly Trust, a national charity dedicated to creating habitats for bees and other pollinators.

The status is a major milestone for Bee Friendly Leamington, a group dedicated to supporting and protecting the town's biodiversity. 

Chair Jo Harper, who also helped set up Bee Friendly Kenilworth, which achieved Bee Friendly status in 2022, has been a key voice in the movement.

She explained that Bee Friendly Leamington collaborates with local groups, including Bee Friendly Warwick, Bee Friendly Cubbington, and the community interest company ARC (Achieving Results in Communities).

Jo said: "Bees are so important for our community.

"They pollinate nearly all the flowers in our gardens and are a huge source of our food. 

"Without bees, we would have a very dreary world."

Leamington has achieved Bee Friendly Town status (images supplied)

Jo went on to explain that there is a lot of misperception about bees.

She said: "We are trying to raise awareness of the needs for bees and how important they are, and why we shouldn't be scared of them."

Bee Friendly Leamington has actively engaged with schools and community events, reaching over 40,000 children so far.

"It is great because children are wonderfully positive and want to do things to help," Jo explained.

With studies showing that around 12 percent of people are afraid of bees, Jo is passionate about breaking the stigma.

"I really want to instill in children how to 'be' around a bee, without getting scared and flapping your arms and instead, to appreciate their importance and know how to act around them, because they're very unaggressive animals. 

"They're not even interested in people. 

"They just want to find flowers and somewhere to nest."

Jo pointed out that most people only know about honey bees, when in fact there are over 270 bee species in the UK. 

Raising awareness about this diversity is central to Bee Friendly Leamington's mission.

Jo Harper and Julie Burton at Old Milverton Horticultural Show (images supplied)

Crucial challenges bees are facing now include the loss of habitat, pesticide use and climate change. 

Jo highlighted that last year was the worst on record for butterflies and bumblebees due to a cold and rainy spring. 

The UK has also lost over 97 percent of its wildflower meadows over the last 50 to 70 years, leaving many bees starving.

"Even pesticides labelled 'bee-friendly' have been shown to cause harm," Jo warned.

But she is optimistic about community-led solutions. 

"Gardens, schools and businesses can all help. 

"Let wild areas grow, plant flowering trees and nectar-rich plants, and avoid pesticides and herbicides.

"Even a small flower pot on a windowsill can become a vital feeding stop for a queen bumblebee" said Jo.

"I'm really, really keen on education about bees, not just for children, but for everyone. 

"The more people that get involved, the more impact we can have."

Three of the committee with the Bee Friendly Trust's award, Tanya Carey, Jo Harper and Julie Burton (images supplied)

Jo added that often, the best way to help bees is by doing nothing.

She advised against removing weeds like dandelions and clover, which provide essential food for pollinators. 

"If you mow your lawn, raise the blade to leave the flowers.

"A bee will fly into a garden and it should be full of food, but it's like going into Asda and there being no food on the shelves. 

"Just keeping those flowers doesn't cost anything."

For those wanting to do more, Jo recommended planting flowers that are rich in nectar and pollen, and avoiding decorative varieties like Busy Lizzies, which offer no benefit to bees.

Looking ahead, Bee Friendly Leamington will be at several upcoming events this summer. 

The team will join ARC at All Saints Parish on 7 June to participate in its Wild Patches event. 

The event will mark the unveiling of the new Living Labyrinth, created in partnership with ARC, Brink Contemporary Arts, Bee Friendly Leamington and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Bee Friendly Leamington will also be at the Bee Wild Hill Close Gardens event on 14 June and at Eco Fest at the Pump Room Gardens on Saturday 30 August. 

In the meantime, Jo said she is more than happy to speak to anyone who wants to know more about how to help protect bees, going forward.

"This is just the beginning," said Jo. 

"We've come a long way, but there's still so much more to do."