The event will showhowe vital role bees and pollinators are. Photo: Adonyi Gabor

To bee or not to bee

Tramore Valley Park will be buzzing this Saturday as a host of free, informative demonstrations and talks take place for World Bee Day.

The event, which is part of The KinShip Project, will take place from 2-5pm and feature an information stall on the vital role that bees and pollinators play in the life of so many plants and animals on the planet.

Eleanor Attridge at Cork County Beekeepers Association said: “There will be something for everyone. Whether you are interested in keeping your own hives or simply eager to immerse yourself in the wonderful world of this intelligent species that we are fortunate to share our environment with, we look forward to welcoming you.

“Families, gardeners and anyone with an interest in the environment are invited to drop in and enjoy the wealth of know-how that our members, both experienced and novice, have to share.”

The Cork County Beekeepers Association will facilitate a safe peek inside a demonstration hive.

There will also be guidance on planting pollinator friendly plants in private and community gardens. The sweetest part will be a honey production workshop with a tasting for participants.

Liam Casey, Senior Executive Parks and Landscape Officer at Cork City Council said: “It is great to celebrate World Bee Day within such a rejuvenated landscape that is now Tramore Valley Park which is now a haven for wildlife and for the local community to engage and learn what we can all do to help pollinators within our own homes and possibly become the beekeepers of the future.” The KinShip Project Lead Artists Marilyn Lennon and Seán Taylor, a beekeeper himself, said: “This is part of the broader citizen-led programme of the KinShip Project where, through creative programming, the public and local communities are supported to engage in peer education in support of an inter-species perspective on climate action.”

While every precaution will be taken to ensure the event is safe for all ages, participants are advised against wearing perfume or strong smelling products that will attract bees to you.

Suitable clothing and footwear for uneven terrain in an outdoor environment is also recommended.