Bees and pollinating insects are essential for the Łosice County (Mazovian Voivodeship) due to the presence of not only beekeeping farms but also numerous orchards and plantations. Our conversations with local beekeepers revealed that the decline of bees and the decrease in honey production are linked to the use of harmful plant protection chemicals in the region. Common practices like mowing grass, destroying hedgerows, and removing deciduous trees negatively affect the well-being of pollinators. Based on our diagnosis, these problems arise from the low ecological awareness of people working in agriculture and orchards, lack of knowledge about alternatives to pesticide use, and insufficient dialogue among beekeepers, farmers, activists, and foresters.
To address these issues, we undertook various actions involving the aforementioned groups, as well as children and youth. We formed a partnership of 11 entities, including NGOs, municipal authorities, forest districts, and educational institutions, to collaborate on insect protection. Together, we planned a poster campaign about pollinating insects for our county. We organized two outdoor events with workshops and educational and artistic meetings for the residents of our region. We conducted a series of artistic and culinary workshops using beekeeping products. Alongside residents from various municipalities, we planted nectar-bearing shrubs and linden alleys. Children and youth participated in two street art actions in four locations, where, with the help of an animator, they designed and made costumes, and then paraded through the villages of Platerów, Kisielew, and Nowodwory, singing nature-themed songs. In Łosice, the youth marched through the city streets to the building of the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture, presenting a petition to its head, receiving a response a week later.
We published a cookbook with educational elements about insect and plant protection, including recipes using honey. Through these activities, we disseminated knowledge about the diversity and role of pollinating insects in the county and collectively devised local solutions to ensure their protection.
From the evaluation surveys, we learned that the participants in the workshops enhanced their artistic and culinary skills. Furthermore, the school and preschool parent council in Platerów decided to include the topic of pollinating insects in the curriculum.
