BEES and their vital role in pollinating fruit trees have been celebrated with the installation of a new sculpture at Cotehele.
The piece designed by Brendon Murless can be found in the Mother Orchard at the National Trust property.
The main sculpture depicts honey bees filling their cells with pollen. And if you look closely enough, within the cells themselves, created from timber and bamboo, you may see a variety of real-life bees.
’I wanted to highlight the importance of honey bees and solitary bees and the amazing job they do for our crops and flowers. These species are the unsung heroes of the pollinating world,’ said Brendon.
Since the 1950s orchard numbers in the UK have fallen by almost two-thrids due to changes in agricultural practices and pressures from development. The National Trust plans to reverse this decline and to restore this rare and valuable habitat that is crucial for pollinators and the wildlife they support.
As part of the conservation charity’s work to encourage wildlife, it will plant 68 new orchard sites in England and Wales by 2025.
Cotehele’s seven orchards cover approximately 15 acres and are just some of the 200 orchards looked after by the National Trust.
The sculpture was funded through donations from visitors to Cotehele, where the garden has now reopened. Advance bookings are necessary to limit visitor numbers and maintain public safety.