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Bee Bold Awards

What are the Bee Bold Awards?

We want the West of England to be the Bee and Pollinator Capital of the UK.

West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris has launched the region’s Bee Bold Awards to recognise businesses, organisations and schools that are taking positive action to support bees and pollinators.

41% of pollinator species including bees and butterflies are in decline across the UK.
We are working to increase the number of bees and pollinators in our region and make the West of England the Pollinator Capital of the UK. This is all part of our Climate and Ecological Strategy and Action Plan which sets the ambition to increase wildlife by 30% by 2030 to help tackle the ecological emergency within the region.

Who can apply?

Applications for the awards are open to the following categories that currently operate within the West of England region (Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire):

  • Businesses
  • Charities
  • Community / volunteer groups
  • Schools & education providers

We will work with the award winners to celebrate and promote their pollinator activity across the region.

To reflect the wide range of activity within the region, we are splitting the award winners by organisation type and there are two categories for the awards: Space for Nature and People for Nature.

How do I apply?

To apply, read through the award categories below to determine which one best fits the work you and your organisation are currently undertaking for pollinators.

Then, when you're ready, apply online for your entry. Please remember to answer the questions specific to the category you are applying for, and send and attachments to bee.bold@westofengland-ca.gov.uk.

We'll be in touch with you with next steps.

The deadline for applications is 28th April 2023.

Apply for an award

Bee on pink flowers
Space for Nature Award

Recognising organisations, businesses and schools that use their land or buildings to actively create pollinator-friendly places and minimise or stop negative impacts on pollinators and nature.

These awards recognise initiatives that:

  • Protect, enhance, connect, and expand land for pollinators and nature
  • Use the built environment to support pollinator species
  • Minimise or stop negative impacts on pollinators
Children and man in a field holding a piece of paper
People for Nature Award

Recognising organisations, businesses and schools that use their influence to engage their employees, customers, pupils, communities and partners to actively promote or enable behaviour change to benefit pollinators and nature.

These awards recognise initiatives that:

  • Bring employees, pupils, volunteers and communities together to work on environmental issues
  • Support community initiatives
  • Raise the profile of businesses, communities, and schools that are supporting pollinators
  • Involve or engage customers, the public and the wider community with pollinators

We’re investing millions of pounds across the region to create new habitats and support wildlife. However, we need businesses, organisations and schools to work with us to achieve our 2030 ambitions.

Bee Bold Awards

Celebrating innovation

We all need to work together to protect and support pollinators and other crucial species to recover and thrive.

The Bee Bold Awards have helped to share success stories and practical ideas to showcase our region and celebrate our innovative organisations.

Bee Bold Awards

Check out our 2022 Bee Bold Award Winners

On Saturday 1st October 2022, West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris joined members of the community at the Kingsmeadow@MadeForever Community Centre to celebrate action being taken across the region to support pollinators.

Six outstanding projects from businesses, schools, and community groups were announced as winners of the inaugural Bee Bold Awards, celebrating innovative approaches that protect and support pollinators to recover and thrive. These practical ideas, assessed by a panel of local experts, showcase the region’s efforts, and act as success stories to inspire others to take action.

The event was held as part of a community effort to plant 10,000 wildflowers at Siston Common in South Gloucestershire, organised with South Gloucestershire Council, supported by a range of partners including Avon Wildlife Trust, Burgon and Ball, and Friends of Siston Common. This is part of the South Gloucestershire Council’s Common Connections project, funded by nearly £1m of investment from the West of England Combined Authority.

The Winners of the 2022 Bee Bold Awards were:

Redcatch Community Garden

Social enterprise working together to turn an urban piece of abandoned land into a space for nature.

NHS Trust North Bristol

Not only benefiting pollinators but for supporting improved health and welfare.

Ecus Ltd

Low-cost and effective, having required simple engagement with landowners, but producing great results for pollinators.

Thornbury Orchard

Community members coming together and supporting pollinators and using wildflowers in conjunction with orchards.

Grow Wilder

Supporting and educating the community to make change in their own settings.

Wheatfield Primary School

Educating children to take action, which in turn is inspiring parents and the wider family to get involved.

Bee Bold awards map logo on an outdoor background

Bee Bold Awards map

Discover the organisations who are taking practical steps to support our precious pollinators across the region on our interactive map.

View the awards map

Image credit: Josephine Amalie Paysen

Where can I get help in supporting pollinators at home or at work?

For more information, visit our pollinator resource page.

Visit Pollinator Resource Page

Continue to

Bee and pollinator capital

We want our region to the be UK Bee & Pollinator Capital, with a range of habitats and spaces for our bees and wildlife to flourish.

Community Pollinator Fund

We are funding community groups to help take action for pollinators within the West of England region.

Tackling the ecological emergency

Our Climate and Ecological Strategy and Action Plan sets the ambition for nature to be in recovery by 2030 and increase the abundance of wildlife by 30% in 2030.