Queen Bee Day: Arundel celebrates being the first in West Sussex to achieve a Bee Friendly Town Award

Arundel Bee Project, led by founder Nick Field, achieved its long-held goal of leading Arundel to achieving Bee Friendly status in May. On Saturday, this success was celebrated with bee-themed fun and games organised by Arundel Town Council.

The town was a hive of activity as the award was celebrated at the Pollinator's Garden with a circus performer, face-painting artist, an interactive storyteller, volunteer 'worker bees' and a guest appearance from Barnabee, the official mascot of St Barnabas House hospice in Worthing.

Visitors were able to find out more about the importance of pollinators at the Arundel Bee Project stand from founder Nick Field and beekeeper Doug Hart.

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Arundel mayor Tony Hunt presented the Bee Friendly Town Award to Nick, as well as the Public and Community Award from the Sussex Heritage Trust for the the Pollinator’s Garden to Nick and Martin Duncan, head gardener at Arundel Castle.

Tracy Clayton, town events manager, said: "Huge thanks to everyone who joined in with celebrating Arundel’s first Queen Bee Day – the Arundel Farmers Market traders who decorated their stalls with yellow bunting, the performers and artists providing bee-themed entertainment on the day and the Arundel Festival of the Arts volunteers handing out free wildflower seeds in their bee costumes.

"It was a fantastic opportunity for the whole town to have fun whilst raising awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators in our planet’s ecosystem.”

The fun continues until Monday, August 29, with a children’s Arundel Bee Trail, available to purchase for £2 from Arundel Museum and Arundel Town Hall.

The Sussex Heritage Trust Award recognises the way the garden has improved the community by attracting pollinating bees and insects and providing an enjoyable place for visitors to relax.

Judges said: "The scheme transforms a previously disused site into a pleasant sanctuary for pollination and people. The judges particularly commended the partnership between the Norfolk Estate, Arundel Town Council and the South Downs National Park Authority."

The project formed the first phase of the Arundel Bee Project. The garden is in a space previously occupied by a public toilet block. It was transformed by Martin, his team and volunteers using Norfolk Estate timber for a ring of natural wood seating and wooden planters for raised flowerbeds.

Tracy said: "The Pollinator's Gardens is a beautiful outdoor space which is put to good use by residents and visitors alike simply to sit, reflect and watch the world go by, and as an outdoor space for some of the town's smaller community events."