Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT) joined forces with Ramsey Garden Centre to launch a photography competition on Saturday, 1 July 2017, at Ramsey Garden Centre.

There are many kinds of bees on the Isle of Man, including honey bees and 11 different kinds of bumblebees. Photographs of any of them are welcomed – and can be taken in gardens and elsewhere on the Isle of Man, between 1 July 2017 and noon on Saturday 30 September.

There are two categories, one for over 16 years and the second for budding photographers under 16 years of age. More details of the competition, terms and conditions as well as an entry form, can be found on Manx Wildlife Trust’s website at www.manxwt.org.uk/whats-on/bee-in-my-garden.

Declining bee numbers are of real concern as they are vital pollinators of important food crops, including apples, strawberries and potatoes.  Tidy gardens, cut road verges and the use of some insecticides and herbicides are all thought to be contributing to this problem.

Manx Wildlife Trust is keen to encourage everyone to value bees and this competition is part of its campaign to raise awareness of their importance to us.  It is also holding a bumblebee nest building workshop for children at Ramsey Garden Centre on 30 September – go to (http://www.manxwt.org.uk/whats-on) for more information and there are ideas for gardening for wildlife at http://www.manxwt.org.uk/how-you-can-help/wildlife-gardening.

Photo - Buff-tailed Bumble Bee.  Courtesy of Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography.