News

Fostering community awareness and concern for local pollinators was at the heart of two outdoor events hosted by CLEVER Cities Malmö this past spring: World Bee Day (May 20th) and the Malmö Garden Show (June 3rd-5th). At both events, participants of all ages were encouraged to leave a fear of bees at the metaphorical door, and were given an insider view into the world of pollinators–a world upon which our food system and biodiversity targets depend. World Bee Day was a particular hit with preschool children, families, and senior citizens, who got up close and personal with local pollinators by playing pollinator bingo. A local bee-keeper was also onsite, who showed kids what honey bees look like and how they behave, an activity that helped build connection with bees and reduce fear. Kids also learned that they can make a difference in their own communities by creating seed balls and insect hotels, and thus providing local pollinators with important food sources and habitat. Participants left with free seeds and posters of pollination, bees, butterflies, and hoverflies, so that they could continue their change-making at home. 

The Malmö Garden show picked up where World Bee Day left off with a three day extravaganza dedicated to the love of gardening. Sustainability was the unifying theme and CLEVER Cities Malmö had a central spot in the event’s Climate Square - a gathering place where the community could connect with local organizations and individuals committed to valuing and protecting the environment. In addition to repeating the highly popular pollinator bingo and seed balls debuted at World Bee Day, participants were given butterfly masks to color and wear, a variety of seed mixes and pollinator tips for balcony and garden, and challenged to dream up a pollinator free breakfast. Try it yourself–make a list of your favorite breakfast foods and check which items require pollination. Once you’ve crossed every pollinator dependent or partially dependent food item off your list, you’ll likely find you aren’t left with much. A culinary world without pollinators is not a very interesting one.

Find out more about what you and your community can do to follow Malmö’s lead and improve conditions for local pollinators, your community, and the world!