Despite the chilly autumn weather, students, staff and community members turned out in force to celebrate World Bee Day at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst on Wednesday, May 20.
Held at PK’s Pollinator and Community Garden on the Bathurst campus, the event marked not only World Bee Day but also the fifth anniversary of the much-loved garden, which continues to play an important role in promoting pollinator awareness and environmental sustainability.
The celebration featured a range of hands-on activities designed to educate and inspire participants about the vital role bees and other pollinators play in our everyday lives. Visitors enjoyed propagation workshops, rock painting, a treasure hunt, bee-themed cupcakes and even a waggle dance demonstration.
A highlight of the day was hearing from horticulturalists who shared practical advice on selecting native plants that attract bees and other pollinators to local gardens. Participants were also able to pot up plants to take home, helping to create more bee-friendly spaces throughout the region.
The event included gifts of flowering plants and a community working bee, with volunteers helping to prune and maintain the pollinator garden as it enters its sixth year.
Event co-organiser Dr Alain Neher from Charles Sturt University’s School of Business said World Bee Day was an important reminder of the critical role pollinators play in both food production and healthy ecosystems.
“Bees are the silent architects of our ecosystem, yet they face unprecedented threats,” Dr Neher said.
“As we mark the fifth anniversary of our local PK’s Pollinator and Community Garden this World Bee Day, let’s remember that protecting our pollinators isn’t just an environmental hobby.
“It’s a necessity for our food security and the health of the Central West and beyond.
“It’s important that we all remember that one in three bites of food we eat is thanks to pollinators.”
The event provided a valuable opportunity for the community to connect, learn, and contribute to a healthier environment while celebrating the small but mighty creatures that help keep our gardens, farms, and food systems thriving.
