Would you like to show your appreciation for bees this winter? Here is a list of gift ideas for any bee lovers you know. Presents for yourself are encouraged too!
Bee hotel
If you have a garden or balcony with enough space, offer solitary bees a place to stay. They need somewhere to call home and lay their eggs, so a bee hotel in your garden is sure to be a welcome sight. It may be a welcome sight to you as well since some of the designs are true works of art!
Bee water station
Offering bees a dedicated water station could help them to avoid the hazards of other sources of water. If bees have to rely on puddles, they could be stepped on and the water could be contaminated. Bird baths and ponds may be too deep and they could drown. A bee water station in your garden or balcony would let bees drink and gather water from a source that would ensure they come to no harm.
Bee revival kit
A bee revival kit is a little vial of white granulated sugar mixed into water that you can keep with you somewhere like your keyring. While sugar syrup isn’t typically the best diet for bees, if you find one in distress, it can save their life. Bee revival kits come in a range of colours and materials, so you can personalise them to your taste. If you’re feeling lavish, you can even get them inscribed.
Beeswax food wraps
These are a sustainable way to reduce the amount of clingfilm you need in your kitchen. Beeswax food wraps are great for wrapping up food in a lunchbox or sealing the top of a bowl of leftovers in your fridge. They’re durable and versatile, so their use expands with your imagination. For example, it’s possible to mould them into little dishes, so you could take them to a picnic to hold small snacks like blueberries or crisps. Beeswax food wraps come in all sorts of cute patterns and can be used time and time again, unlike the much less pretty single-use clingfilm.
Beeswax candles
Candles offer light and cheer in the darker, colder months. Beeswax candles can often be purchased from your local beekeeper which means you can buy them in good conscience, knowing the seller has a vested interest in ensuring they take only what their bees can spare. Beeswax makes for high quality candles that burn longer than paraffin candles and do not create the quantity of sooty residue of paraffin candles. They’re also natural odour neutralizers and air purifiers!
Beeswax lip balm
This is another item you may be able to buy from your local beekeeper. Thanks to the 100% beeswax it’s made from, it will be highly hydrating and protect your lips against the winter weather.
Honey soap
Honey soap has a delicious scent and will not only cleanse your skin but also moisturise it.
Bee-themed goodies
There are all sorts of items decorated with the image of bees, like hoodies, necklaces and mugs. If you’d like to buy these while doing good in the world, check out the online or brick & mortar shops of charities. Environmental charities are my top recommendation so that bees can benefit from your purchase.
Honey!
Visit your local beekeeper to purchase a jar of honey superior to any you’ll find in the supermarket.
Many of the items on this list can be made yourself if you enjoy DIY crafts. Get in touch with your local beekeeper for supplies if you want to try creating your own beeswax presents. If you have neither the time nor inclination for DIY crafts, everything on this list can be bought ready-made.
Whether you make or buy them, choosing any of these gift suggestions will support bees and beekeepers this festive season. Thank you!
