Ballarat children are learning about the importance of bees this school holidays through a fun and colourful activity pack.
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The Ballarat Botanikids program provided 80 'Bee Friendly' kits to families this week, containing honey, bee friendly flower seeds and a nature activity book featuring facts about bees.
Ballarat Botanikids program convenor Julie Bradby said the group had halted in-person children's garden sessions since COVID-19 hit, so volunteers had come up with new ways to encourage families to get in the garden at home.
Weekly activity suggestions have been posted on the group's Facebook page and the Bee Friendly kit is the first of a planned series of activity packs available for pick up.
"The main aim of this pack was to highlight the importance of bees in our garden and the need to make sure there is lots of food around for bees," Ms Bradby said.
A third of the world's food production depends on bees.
Bees and other pollinators pollinate three quarters of the plants that produce 90 per cent of the world's food.
Families picked the Bee Friendly packs from the BotaniKids base at the historic Gatekeepers Cottage on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Before COVID-19 hit, Botanikids ran regular programs with schools, kindergartens and young families, aiming to create a connection to gardening and nature from a young age.
"We encourage a family focus on the knowledge that plants are really important to how we live well. If we don't have plants we won't be able to live," Ms Bradby said.
"The other thing which is important is getting outside in the fresh air and enjoying nature. It helps your well-being, your sense of self and problem solving, all those sorts of things are really important.
"It is two pronged, there is that knowledge and deep education we need to embed in children and the other thing is getting out and enjoying being outside amongst nature."
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Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens funded the creation of the activity packs. The group is working to engage more young people in gardening.
It raises funds through its nursery open at the Botanical Gardens every Tuesday and second Sunday of the month from 1pm to 4pm.
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