Blue Mountains Community
Builds a Native Bee House

The relentless spread of urban development has resulted in the destruction of countless Australian native bee nests. However, the story is not all bad! Community awareness can help to support and build existing populations of native bees.

On Saturday the 5th of May 2012, the Australian Plant Society hosted a special event to promote biodiversity and support local populations of native bees. Over 20 Blue Mountains community members came together to create the first Blue Mountains community native bee house.

Above: the native bee house made by workshop participants at the Blue Mountains group of the Australian Plants Society

As a local resident and native bee researcher at the University of Western Sydney, I spoke to the group about the beauty and diversity of the native bees in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales.

There are almost 200 species of native solitary bee in the Sydney and Blue Mountains region. They nest in a variety of substrates including pithy plant stems and old borer holes.

As we beautify our gardens, removing sticks and rotting wood, we remove the natural habitat of our native bees. But we can help, by providing artificial nesting spaces.

With this in mind, the group set about creating a a community native bee house from drilled wooden blocks and bundles of sticks.