My 2024 diary is filling up with some great events. If you want to host a special event where you think a bee safari or a bee walk or a bee talk would work do get in touch.
My focus is on our bumblebees (we have 24 species in the UK) and our solitary bees ( we have around 250 species in the UK) rather than the honeybee. These are our wild bees and these are the bees that really need our help.
I’ve been presenting workshops, taking school assembly, teaching children, sharing my interactive nature table at events, planning festivals and events and even hosting bee birthday parties.
I love taking bee safaris in beautiful gardens, especially organic gardens where the pollinators are safe from chemicals.
Recent events have been at The National Botanic Gardens of Wales, RHS Wisley, Bristol Botanic Gardens, Jekka’s Herb Farm, Yeo Valley Organic Gardens. Heart of BS13.
I’ve also been presenting illustrated talks for gardening clubs and horticultural societies. This year my diary is filling up fast with lots of exciting events.
For the first time this year I am hosting workshops at RHS Rosemoor on May 11th 2024. More information here.
RHS Wisley has booked me again to present workshops at their flagship garden on May 23rd 2024. More information here. And I am very excited to announce that I am going to deliver two workshops at the fabulous National Trust Garden – Hidcote on June 3rd 2024.
New Date RHS ROSEMOOR – Bumblebee and Solitary Bee Workshop – July 26th 2024
I’m really excited to tell you that I am tutoring at RHS Rosemoor this summer. Tickets are now on sale for my first bumblebee and solitary bee workshop on July 26th in Devon.
I’ve got a lovely illustrated talk to introduce you to some our our charming bumblebees and fascinating solitary bees who bring our gardens alive and pollinate our plants.
I’m going to show you why our gardens are so important for pollinators, help you discover how to support these precious pollinators by choosing powerful plants that really earn their place in the pollinator garden, and explain about nesting sites and insect houses.
After tea/coffee and cake, we will head outside to meet some of the bees close-up during a bee walk or bee safari around the spectacular gardens at RHS Rosemoor. By the end of the afternoon you will better understand the needs of your garden bees, giving you the knowledge and confidence to make positive plant and gardening choices to transform your plot into a true bee-friendly, pollinator paradise.
Yeo Valley Organic Gardens – Bumblebee Safaris 2024 – NEW DATE – Last Chance for 2024 – August 15th.
The dates for my Yeo Valley Organic Gardens – Bumblebee Safaris for 2024 have been released. It’s a fabulous chance to not only learn about our amazing wild bees (not honeybees) but to also get to visit this amazing garden. Plus you can finish with lunch at The Cake Hole (and eat more cake).
My session includes an illustrated talk, the chance to experience my unique bee inspired nature table and a bee safari around the gardens. There’s also tea or coffee on arrival and CAKE!! Book tickets here.
Saturday May 4th 2024 SOLD OUT
Thursday June 13th 2024 SOLD OUT
Thursday July 18th 2024 SOLD OUT
NEW DATE August 15th 2024
Praise for my Yeo Valley Bee Safari
“Such an amazing experience. Jean is very knowledgeable & enthusiastic about all varieties of bees. I learnt so much I’ve been on a Bee Keeping experience before which I thoroughly enjoyed, but this was quite a different experience to that one, as this focuses on all types of bees, in their own habitat. So don’t bypass this event, just because you might have been on a Bee course before! This is an informative, interesting, safe & thoroughly enjoyable experience that I highly recommend! LOVED IT” Jayne Townley
“Jean is a fantastic, passionate and engaging host. We learned a lot about bees and the Yeo Valley gardens were absolutely stunning. We also loved the baked goods! Thank you” Rosie Williams
“The talk was informative and delivered by a genuine enthusiast who really knew her stuff. It was a very stimulating and enjoyable experience,” Jennie Colton
“Perfect weather, beautiful location… And the word enthusiastic is not enough to describe Jean ‘the bee expert’. Who knew there was so much to know about bees? I highly recommend this experience, and if you are lucky the gardens may be open to the public, so there could be cake available too.“
“I really enjoyed the Bee safari with Jean. I knew very little about bees before the event but now feel I know more and am fascinated by them. The garden at Yeo Valley was a wonderful setting and I will definitely visit it again. Thanks“
Common Farm Flowers – May 8th 2024 – SOLD OUT
Here’s another new event for 2024, the chance to learn about bees and pollinators at the totally wonderful Common Farm Flowers. We’ll take a walk through the flower garden where I will introduce you to some of our fabulous bumblebees and solitary bees and help you to understand how to garden to support all of our bees and other essential pollinators.
During the walk I will gently catch some of the pollinators feeding on the flowers, in magnifying pots, so that you can see the beauty of real bumblebees and other pollinators close up. I will highlight some of the power plants you can grow in your gardens to support our precious pollinators and share lots of fascinating insights into the lives of these amazing creatures.
Book your ticket here. Please note that this event is raising money for charity.
Jekka’s Herb Farm Open Days – June 7th & 8th 2025 – SOLD OUT
If you’ve never been to Jekka’s Herb Farm where have you been. It’s a fabulous organic herb nursery with a demonstration herbetum, a beautiful herb garden, a shop and cafe and plants to buy galore.
Visit on an Open Day and if you’d like to learn more about your garden bees and the herb plants to support them, then come and join me on Friday June 7th and Saturday June 8th 2024 for one of my popular Bee Tours around the herbetum.
Quince Honey Farm Bee Safari – June 15th 2024 – SOLD OUT
Have you been wondering just what is buzzing around your garden flowers? Would you like to meet some of your garden bees close-up? If you are in or near Devon, I’ll be at the Quince Honey Farm on Saturday June 15th 2.30 to 4pm where I’ll be taking a bee walk and talk around the nectar gardens looking at the pollinators feeding on the flowers, with an emphasis on our solitary bees and our bumblebees. Places are limited so book your tickets here.