Archive: the bee hunt and safari took place during Buxton Festival Fringe in July 2021.
In July 2021, the Great Buxton Bilberry Bumblebee Hunt invited residents and visitors to find colourful bee creations in local shop windows during Buxton Festival Fringe.
The 2021 Fringe theme was “paint the town orange with flowers”, reflecting the colour of the locally found bilberry bumblebee.
Co-ordinated by the Friends of Buxton Station (FoBS), who campaigned on behalf of bees, the arty items made for the Bee Hunt were created by local community groups including U3A’s Knit & Natter, Two Left Hands, Stone & Water, Fairfield Women’s Institute’s Natty Knitters and FoBS. Buxton Junior School pupils, Leona & Sasha Jones also created two.
The knitters created their bees from scrap yarn and wool; the Two Left Hands and Stone & Water bees evolved from recycled rubbish, made clean and safe.
Dave Carlisle, Chairman of FoBS said: “The Great Buxton Bilberry bee Hunt aims to increase awareness of this special little insect, found only in mountainous areas like the Peak District; we are lucky to have them present in and around Buxton and ought to help them survive.”
“We hope that our residents and visitors will take part, learn how to spot this special rare bee in the wild and make their gardens more bee-friendly for any that stray into town.”
The bilberry bumblebee (Bombus monticola) is nationally scarce and has declined. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust says it is found mostly in upland areas, including moorlands and mountains. It usually has yellow bands on the thorax and an orange-red tail covering more than half the abdomen; males can have brighter yellow facial hair.
The 2021 Bilberry Bumblebee Safari
A bilberry bumblebee safari with local naturalist Steve Orridge was scheduled for 19 July 2021, with a walk from Buxton Station towards Lightwood.
The original announcement described a roughly 2.5-mile loop and said the upper track had loose gravel. Its accessibility description applied to the 2021 event; route conditions may have changed.
The hunt featured Billie, a fibreglass bilberry bumblebee sculpture painted by local artist Pam Smart. The 2021 announcement said Billie would be displayed in Potter’s window during the hunt, with plans for the sculpture to be based in the station’s Japanese Garden and visit groups and schools.
Pam, who provided her artistic services free of charge, said: “I was thrilled when asked to help out with this project. It’s lovely to work with so many passionate people who love Buxton, our local wildlife and our beautiful buildings as much as I do. I’m known for painting local buildings, so it was a challenge to work on Billie.”
Frances Sussex of Transition Buxton said: “Our Billie Bee signifies the importance of addressing our climate crisis and protecting local wildlife habitats. Bees are crucial to safeguarding our food supply and maintaining a healthy planet through biodiversity. We want Buxton to enjoy learning about Bees as Billie buzzes around town to organisations and events, so please get in touch to request a visit.”
Rhodri Green, local project officer for The Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT) said: “Not just cute, cheery and charming, they are vital pollinators to many of our food crops and wildflowers. Changes in agriculture over the last 80 years have had a drastic impact on our bumblebees, leaving them often hungry and homeless. Some UK bumblebee species have already become extinct, gone forever!”
“Those left behind like the Bilberry bumblebees really need help! Find out how you can do your bit by providing a more bee-friendly garden, have a look at the BBCT’s website at Bumblebee Conservation Trust gardening advice.”
Rhodri added: “It is fantastic to be involved with station friends groups like FoBS, we love their enthusiasm and supportive plans for Buxton’s bumblebees. I work for BBCT on ‘Pollinating the Peak,’ which is a local project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund: we’ve already used this funding for training and look to do more with their money as the Buzzing Stations project work progresses.”
In 2021, the following shops and venues displayed bees for the hunt:
Potter’s, Terrace Road – hosting Billie throughout the event.
Hargreaves, Bells & Fitzgeralds, all on Spring Gardens
Divine Trash, Cavendish Arcade
Buxton Visitor Centre, The Crescent
Buxton Pudding Emporium, The Square
Clowes the Chemist, Cavendish Circus
Beer District Peak Ascent bike shop, all on The Colonnade
Everything’s Rosy, Hardwick Street
Tradesman’s Entrance Café, Market Place
Pig and Pepper, Symposium, Vesuvius, Day Zero, The Closet, Queenie of Shabby
Chic, Scrivener’s, all on the High Street in Higher Buxton
Green Man Gallery, Hardwick Square South
Thomas Theyer Foundation, London Road
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