The copper clad bee bell, with it’s clay cob substrate, provides habitat for Resin Bees, Blue Banded bees and Teddy Bear Bees. Of the two terracotta bee bells, one provides a bamboo substrate – habitat for Leaf cutters, Reed bees and Masked bees- and a Xanthorrea or Grass Tree Substrate, which we hope will attract Carpenter Bees. – Celeste Coucke
These sculptural forms provide habitat for native solitary bees whilst becoming a focal point which we hope will provoke questions and inspire visitors to learn more about the important pollination role our native bees perform.
The inspiration for the forms is “Japanesque”. As bees offer a clear example of the symbiotic interconnectedness of all things, it’s no wonder that Bee Shrines – hives that are roofed with ornate Japanese tiles- are present in some Japanese Shinto Temples.
These Bee Bells combine a Japanese aesthetic with observation of the habits of native Australian Leaf cutter bees. n this project, the participants assumed the role of the leaf cutter bees, shaping leaves in copper and terracotta to clad each of the nesting substrates.
Megan Halcroft from Bees Business lead information sessions for the workshops and participants contributed to the creations of the gorgeous Bee Bells that now hang in the Picton Botanic Gardens.
Find out more about the project head to Celest Coucke’s webpage or for more about native bees check out Bees Business.