Carnaby is gearing up to be quite literally buzzing. From 9-15 July, Shaftesbury will launch Bees’ Needs Week in Carnaby Street, celebrating the nation’s pollinator heroes.

The world-famous shopping destination will be renamed ‘Carnabee Street’ and transformed into a hive of activity in support of the annual Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) campaign to raise awareness of bees and other pollinators – and importantly, what people can do to help them thrive.

Carnaby couldn’t be more of the perfect pitstop for our black and yellow furry flying friends, as across the 14 streets of Carnaby there are over 1,000 flower window boxes, and 30,000 bees living across bee hives on the Carnaby roof tops.

The iconic Carnaby Street arch will be given a bee-themed makeover covered in bees, and a popup ‘Hive’ will open at 3 Carnaby Street from 9-15 July, with a host of educational and fun games,installations and talks in partnership with Defra, alongside charities, universities, businesses andlandowners. There’ll also be a bumblearium in the window of the ‘Hive’, giving visitors the chance to get close to the bee action.

Nearly 90% of wild flowering plant species depend, to some extent, on bees and other animals transferring pollen. If there were no honey bees we would have great difficulty in finding fruits and vegetables. In fact, pollinators are worth about £1/3 trillion to global food production each year.

As well as visiting the pop-up ‘Hive’ at 3 Carnaby Street, visitors to Carnaby will be able to follow an art trail around the area’s 14 streets, with illustrated bees by London based artist Lizzie King on the windows of shops and restaurants. Seek out Carnaby’s best, buzzing buys for summer, including Swatch’s MAX L’ABEILLE bumblebee inspired watch, Superga’s bee illustrated trainers, Joy EverleyFine Jewellers’ delicate silver and vermail bee collection and Cubitts’ core frames in ‘Honey’.

Foodies can head to Carnaby’s Kingly Court to enjoy a sustainable honey infused cocktail and dessert at Le Bab, honeycomb doughnuts at Bread Ahead, ‘Honey 75’ cocktail at Whyte & Brown or So Pure Café’s black and yellow striped honey bounty bar. Also in Carnaby, head to Tapas Brindisa Soho for their Bees Needs cocktail with Alemany Turmeric honey, or Dehesa for their cocktail with tequila, jasmine and honey tea. Visit Carnaby.co.uk to discover the full trail.

Carnaby is a buzzing place to be, so head down to support the Bees’ Needs campaign and raise awareness of the pollinators and their essential role to our environment.

Carnaby.co.uk @CarnabyLondon @DefraGovUK #BeesNeeds

For further information and images please contact Katie Champain at

Sister London katie.champain@sisterlondon.com 0207 287 9601

For more information about Bees’ Needs Week 2018 please contact the Defra Press Office

Sadie Lister sadie.lister@defra.gsi.gov.uk 02072380000

Scarlett Elworthy scarlett.elworthy@defra.gsi.gov.uk 07770 335097

Notes to Editors

Hi-res images and interviews available on request

Carnaby

Carnaby is in the heart of London’s West End, where over 100 retail brands of quality and distinction and over 60 independent restaurants, cafes and bars can be found across 14 streets, including the world famous Carnaby Street. Carnaby is a unique and iconic experiential shopping, dining and leisure destination.

Defra

Bees’ Needs Week is part of the National Pollinator Strategy, a 10-year plan which sets out how the Government, beekeepers, conservation groups, farmers and researchers can work together to improve the status of the 1,500 or so pollinating insects in England

This news item was originally published on the Shaftesbury website here.