Thank you !

Thank you so much to everyone who came to our film screening To be with the Bees. Your presence, your openness and the conversations afterwards meant more than we can easily put into words.

We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the River Char Action Group for supporting the screening. It felt positive to come together across land, water, food and nature. These systems are deeply connected and exploring them together feels like a hopeful and constructive way forward. Collaboration is one of the most meaningful tools we have.

We chose to support this independent film because stories like this matter. They help raise awareness, spark curiosity and open conversations. Conversations that allow space to listen, reflect and explore what feels possible for each of us.

There is no single solution. As with most things in nature, it is complex. But learning more gives us the opportunity to pause, notice and make more conscious choices.

There is something known as the overview effect, a shift in awareness often described by astronauts who, when seeing the Earth from afar, suddenly sense how interconnected and delicate it all is. For us, beekeeping creates that same shift, an overview effect from the ground.

Working with bees changes how you notice the world. You begin to tune into the seasons, the soil, the flowers, the weather and the subtle balance that supports life. It does not create a sense of power, but rather a sense of care. Once that awareness grows, it naturally begins to shape how you see things. From there, small changes often follow, not out of pressure but from understanding.

This could be supporting organic growers when it feels accessible, or simply becoming more curious about where food comes from. It might be noticing what we use in our gardens and wondering whether gentler alternatives exist. Our gardens truly matter. Together they form a wide network of green spaces and even small choices within them can help create pockets of support for wildlife.

The film focused mainly on honeybees, but solitary and bumble bees make up the majority of our pollinators. Creating habitat for them can be one of the most meaningful ways to help. We are creating a helpful resource showing suitable bee hotels that can be found on our website in the next few weeks. In the meantime have a look online at Dave Goulson as he’s made quite a few you tube videos of suitable bee hotels.

Sometimes very simple actions can make a difference. Leaving gaps between paving slabs allows ground nesting bees to use the soil beneath. A small sunny area of sandy soil can also provide valuable nesting space for many solitary species. Exploring local seed swaps and untreated seeds, bulbs and plants can be another gentle step for those who feel drawn to it. These small decisions, made collectively, can quietly add up.

When it comes to honey, learning about where it comes from can help deepen appreciation for the time, care and relationship involved between bees and beekeepers. Understanding provenance often strengthens that connection.

There are no perfect answers and no quick fixes. But awareness opens the door to intention and intention allows change to grow naturally. As the film reminds us, intelligence is nothing without consciousness.

If the evening left you feeling curious, reflective or interested in exploring further, we would truly welcome the conversation. We have a website and a planting guide and are always happy to share ideas, resources and practical next steps.

If you would like to continue exploring these themes, we also recommend watching Wilding, the story of the Knepp Estate in Sussex, 6 Inches of Soil which follows farmers exploring regenerative approaches, and Seeds of Freedom on YouTube which offers insight into seeds, farming and food systems.

You can also download and watch the film at home or share it with friends, this can be found on the 'To be with the Bees' website.

It would be really useful to us if you would please let us know how you heard of our screening.

Thank you again for showing up, for listening and for being part of this growing conversation. Through curiosity, collaboration and care, meaningful change becomes possible.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the evening possible, including Chris at the Village Hall, Julie from the River Char Action Group, those who helped with clearing up and our friends and family for their support.

This was the UK premiere of the film and our first experience of organising a screening, so we genuinely welcome feedback, both the good and the not so good, as it will help guide what we do next.

Lastly, why not come along to one of our experiences this summer and you too could ‘be with the bees!’ Dates and details on our website.

With all good wishes

Helen and Gareth