Growing Communities (GC) encourages young people to eat healthily, understand and learn about food provenance whilst capturing their imaginations. It helps assist with creating links between generations, enabling shared knowledge and promotes working with communities.



The Bee Good Competition 2024  - Is now open!

Whether your school is just starting out or looking to develop an established garden, the Bee Good Competition can help demonstrate the value of gardening, enriching the curriculum, teaching life skills and contributing to children's mental and physical health.  This year it is all about the British Bee and how we can help by supporting these mini beasts that are so crucial to our ecosystem.  GC is asking our busy bee helpers to create a bee haven for our buzzy little friends to feed, live and prosper.

The competition is open to all primary schools in Essex it is designed to encourage team work with no age categories. We encourage the children to think outside of the box with their design and promote wellness in schools so that children can explore and enjoy the natural world.

GC has some exciting prizes to be won this year including literature for the classroom, Bee Good Hotel and the number one request via our Bee Good Survey that supersedes all other needs is gardening equipment!


First Prize:  Classroom literature: Educational books about Bees, Bee Good Hotel, Gardening equipment & seeds


Runner up:  Classroom literature: Educational books about Bees & seeds


Requirements: 

The children will need to study and illustrate what plants/flowers bees like and list some key facts, then design a meadow plot fit for the Queen bee herself!  A simple design may involve using some old pots/wellies/broken wheelbarrow to transforming an unused part of the school grounds. The children are asked to keep a short diary of the plots creation from beginning to full bloom, this is to ensure this year and going forward each year our Bees have a bountiful surprise waiting for them.  Remember the plots will bloom and display wonderful colours and smells ideal for sensory play and wellbeing.

 

To enter:

Please complete the following 3 minute short survey you will then receive an emailed information pack with full details including Terms and Conditions,  a design template and a short diary template for the children to complete which will only be accepted for entries.


Competition closing date is Monday 8th July 2024 - we look forward to receiving diaries brimming with photographs of colourful bee friendly blooms and bee facts!

WARNING: This competition involves, fun, laughter and fresh air.

All schools have been emailed details of the competition further information is available including the Terms and Conditions if you would like a copy please email: elizabeth.rose@essexrcc.org.uk


COMPETITION RESULTS:

Bee Good Competition 2023

Bee Good Competition 2022

Bee Good Competition 2021


GC RESOURCES

GC handy tips page
Recipe ideas (to be updated)