A Bee for Buglife.. go to their show in April!

I promised Buglife something for their annual raffle, so today I have sent them a print of a little watercolour which I painted yesterday. This time I was quite happy with the quality and colour (yes I am very fussy) so I will also be having some for sale at “BUZZ”. I do like people to have a quality product so I now have some good quality watercolour paper and also some professional  finishing spray which protects the print.

This was my first sketch which I am rather fond of and then the watercolour with the cornflower added. 

I have been reading more and more about the plight of bees, the awful effects of pesticides and the loss of habitats, so I really want to do a bit more to help. I am not sure if the originals will sell at the exhibition, whose point is really just to spread the word about the “other” bees”, but I think prints might.  So I will be reviving my dormant Etsy account soon, and if I sell anything I will be able make a donation or two to bee/insect/wildlife charities. Thinking about what Buglife are doing I may well raffle these two original paintings at my exhibition. 

The lucky winner of my signed print at the Buglife open day will also get a card of  Bombus pascuorum and an extra gift of a bookmarky thing which will encourage them not only to come to the exhibition but to support bees as well.
 

Bookmarks, badges, cards, prints .. well why not !

BUGLIFE. org

If you don’t know about Buglife they really are a great organisation, dedicated to 

“Conserving the small things that run the world”

Buglife is the only organisation in Europe devoted to the conservation of all invertebrates, and we are passionately committed to saving Britain's rarest little animals, everything from bees to beetles, and spiders to snails.”

I wrote about them a couple of days ago when I heard their wonderful proposal for “rivers of flowers” across the UK, to provide wildlife corridors for bugs.

Amongst bee related things on their site you can find:

• Make your own garden bee nest (easy and cheap!)
• Gardening for bumblebees
• Bumblebee information

They are involved in many many projects and they have an open day in April which non members can attend for just £5 for adults and £2.50 for children which includes a light buffet lunch.

Buglife Members Day and Open Day 2010
Saturday 17 April, from 10:45am to 3pm at The Engine Group, 60 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 7RT.

There will be talks and workshops, including these,  all of which I would like to hear.

• Life without chocolate, strawberries and coffee – a world without bugs'

• 'Little nippers – Meet the freshwater crabs of Sri Lanka'

• 'Dead wood is good wood for the Golden hoverfly'

• 'Up on the Downs - chalk grassland butterflies and their conservation'

We will have live bugs, interesting displays, and activities for children. The Buglife team will be there to talk to you about our conservation work, wildlife gardening and how you can get involved.”

It sounds like a fascinating day, I am sorry I can’t be there and of course, if you enter the raffle you might win my little print… but, a life without chocolate?  Unthinkable!