Bees’ Needs Week returns from 8-14 July in Carnaby, buzzing with action in support of the annual Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) campaign to raise awareness of the nation’s bees and other pollinators in the 2019 Year of Green Action.

The renowned shopping destination, recently hailed for its increased measures to becoming more environmentally friendly, will be renamed ‘Carnabee Street’, with a captivating bee-themed takeover of the iconic Carnaby Street arch.

Bee-enthusiasts and conservationists can pick up tips on how to help our pollinator pals at the unique pop-up ‘Hive’ at 3 Newburgh Street. Visitors can get close to the bee action with a live bumblearium from the University of Reading and an observation bumblebee colony from the University of East Anglia, plus experience the inside of a bee hive with interactive VR headsets from Kew Gardens. An array of educational games, honey tasting and microscopes to ‘meet the bees’ will also be available as well as seed sowing demonstrations.

During the week, bee-lovers can also enjoy exclusive bee-themed activity and promotions across Carnaby shops and restaurants. These include special offers on Joy Everley Fine Jewellers’ bee collection, with 10% of sales donated to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. For those with a sweet tooth, Whyte & Brown will be serving ‘Honey 75’ cocktails and The Rum Kitchen have created a special honey-based cocktail ‘Sweet Ting’, with £1 from each cocktail going to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

Globally, almost 90% of wild flowering plant species depend on the transfer of pollen by bees and other animals. Crops which depend on pollinators contribute to a staggering 35% of global crop production volume. Carnaby is not only a shopping destination but also a haven for bees, with over 850 flower window boxes, planters and hanging baskets across the destination’s 14 streets and over 160,000 bees living across bee hives on Carnaby’s roof tops. Newburgh Street, the home of the Bees’ Needs Week ‘Hive’, is also celebrated as 100% pollinator friendly.

Bee’s Needs Week follows the launch of the Carnaby Feels The Love campaign, championing the various initiatives Carnaby is taking to give back to the environment, the community and charities.