KCC teamed up with the Southland Bee Society and Environment Southland and had a “How to bee-friendly in your backyard” event held at the Southland Community Nursery. This event coincided with Bee Aware Month with our aim of promoting how we can do our bit to help bees and other beneficial insects.
We had a bee-friendly flowering plants stall, showing both native and other species of plants that are great for bees. The activity for children involved matching the name of the plant on a card with the actual plant, and we got a bee friendly pack of seeds to bring home to plant. Families could also design a water supply for bees, learning how to do this without drowning the bees. This was great hands on fun! A table showing garden sprays highlighted how using these at your place can inadvertently kill bees. Families got a take home card listing the active ingredients to stay clear of to be bee-friendly. Honey tasting, spotting the Queen in the hive (she was busy laying eggs!), and looking at a bee keeper take a hive apart (with no bees in!) and looking at the honeycomb structure was amazing. Children also had activities including making a bee! A great day. Bronwyn
For more information about Southland Bee Society visit www.southlandbeesociety.nz
Posted: 17 November 2016
Honorlea held her third Natural Body Products workshop on 15th October and feedback from the 10 participants it was just as popular and successful as the previous two workshops and in most cases exceeded people’s expectations.
Most people also expressed interest in further workshops for making balms, soaps, moisturisers etc so watch this space for new workshops in the New Year.
Posted: 17 November 2016
The heavy steady rain didn’t deter the willingness of the Richmond Playcentre families to explore and get out in nature at the Southland Community Nursery.
The children potted up cabbage trees enjoying scooping up the dirt and patting it down. They loved the trolley that the re-potted plants went into.
The puzzles of the butterfly and the spider saw group cooperation and problem solving, the bug hunt saw the children observing the insects and how to keep them safe before returning them to their natural home, and the walk in the bush provided a sensory experience. A wet visit, but so such fun to catch raindrops on tongues! Bronwyn
Posted: 17 November 2016
The great thing about the Community Nursery is the support given by many volunteers. That meant that activities in the Education Centre kept running whilst I was away in the UK from August to October 2016.
So big thanks from me go to Linda and Ray for keeping the nursery running, to Bronwyn organising school groups, play centres and KCC activities, Lesley organising with Guyton’s an apple grafting workshop, Honorlea organising and running her third “Body Products from natural materials” Workshop and Bronwyn working with Sonya Crook and Pat Hoffman from the Southland Bee Society to organise a Bee Friendly day at the nursery. A new group that are now using the Education Centre are Kahui Manu Home School Group who have held sessions every second Thursday from August – their varied learnings under Carmen’s leadership are detailed below – see their facebook page for more details. Thanks to everyone for the effort you are putting into the Community Nursery and Education Centre – it’s a happening place! Chris
Posted: 17 November 2016
How to bee-friendly in your backyard
Sun 25 September 10 am to noon
The Southland Bee Society will be holding a free workshop for families at Southland Community Nursery 185 Grant Road Otatara.
Park at the 183 Grant Road car park and follow the bees to the Education Centre!
Posted: 31 August 2016
