The Bee Garden Competition was a great success with 46 entries submitting 125 photos. 18 businesses happily and enthusiastically donated well over $1000 worth of their products as prizes for the competition.
The main objectives for the competition were to create new resources for native bees, but possibly equally important, to create activity and awareness around our native bees.
During the Covid restrictions it may have given some of us something to focus on and gardening is known as very beneficial for both mental and physical health. The native bee community is quite small in Australia, but a gardening competition crosses over to the garden community which is massive around the world so it draws new people across to develop an awareness and interest in native bees. Most people only know the European Honey Bee and don’t even know there are “other bees”.
To start with I only had one prize and that quickly grew from businesses wanting to be involved and sending me their products. A few of those businesses and people I know were also inspired to start their own gardens which were very impressive.
There were so many great entries it was difficult to choose the winners and I felt bad not being able to give everyone something for their efforts. Hopefully the native bees that are attracted to their new gardens will be their reward! (Cheesy?)
Bee Garden Competition 2020
46 Entries | 125 Photos
1st: Albury Permaculture

2nd: Jennifer Holt

3rd: Christie Doven

Collection of entry photos…

Join in the Bee Garden Challenge!
Besides European Honey Bees, did you know there’s over 1600 species of Native Bees in Australia, and 20,000 species world wide?
You can probably count ten species in your own back yard!
You can help by creating a new garden that benefits bees
What to do…
- Start a new garden… Flower garden, Vege garden, Pots etc, What ever you like that will benefit Bees
- Take a before photo of the area so we can see how it looks before you started
- Take another photo of your garden when it’s at it’s best
- Post the two photos before December 14.
Post on the Native Bee Hives Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/Native-Bee-Hives-786044761508635/ - Good photos presented in an understandable way will help everyone understand what you have accomplished and increase your chances of winning.
Why?…
- Provides resources for bees and other critters
- Convert unused area in to bee habitat
- Learn about bees and other pollinators in your area
- Great for your mental and physical health
- Excellent activity during COVID 19 restrictions
- Lots of prizes to be won
Starts July 1 – 2020
Ends December 14 – 2020
Winners announced 15/12/2020
Prizes list…
3 Prize Packs!!! 1st / 2nd / 3rd
Thanks to these small businesses for their generous donations
- Native Bee Hives – Solitary Bee Observation Block
- Native Bee Hives – Australian Native Bee Ag Guide
- Sydney Stingless Bees – Childrens book “Lovely”
- Hive Haven – Stingless Bee Honey and Pollinator Seed mixes
- Sugarbag Bees – The Australian Native Bee Books
- Bee Yourself – Bee kids pack
- Wide Bay Stingless Bees – Beard butter, Lip Balm, Lip Scrub
- Bee Prepared – $100 Gift Voucher
- Spicers Hollow Native Bees – Stingless Bee stickers
- Meadow Flowers – Flower Seed Mix Packs
- Little Bees Secret Garden – Solitary Bee Hotel
- Krydasu – Pyrography Bee Wood Products
- Up On The Roof Top – Grow Pack
- Central Highland Native Bees – $50 plant voucher
- Beecroft Bees & Botanicals – Glass Mosaics – Blue Banded Bees
- Northside Native Bees – Native Bee signed print
- BeeAwareKids – Native Bee T Shirt
- MBarnett Designs – Enamel Pins and Gift Cards


















