A chance to win a share of £10,000 and support local traders
A swarm of bright and beautiful outsized bees will be buzzing about South Gloucestershire’s high streets from Saturday 24 July as part of a major new campaign led by the Council to support local independent traders.
To take part in the South Gloucestershire Bee Trail Challenge, all you must do is ‘collect’ the 16 individual fibreglass bees by taking a selfie with them and then entering the photos for a chance to win a weekly prize draw of £150 vouchers for each high street.
The Challenge runs until Saturday 18 September with two bees in each of the eight local high streets: Chipping Sodbury, Downend, Filton, Hanham, Kingswood, Staple Hill, Thornbury, and Yate – Station Road. Currently there are almost 80 traders taking part, ranging from arts and crafts and gift shops to pubs and cafes, with more joining the scheme every day.
All the bees have been decorated by local artists and each one is very different – from Astronobee, inspired by space and the world of the unknown, to Pablo Bee Cazzo, with his rainbow wings and honeycomb centre.
Leader of South Gloucestershire Council Cllr Toby Savage said: “Everyone at the Council is extremely proud that we are funding the Bee Trail Challenge. I am so grateful to the local artists who have come up with such original designs that will become a colourful, vibrant part of our high streets and community spaces.
“Ultimately, the challenge is about supporting our high streets to thrive. They were already changing before the pandemic. Covid-19 has simply accelerated that change and we are supporting them in that reinvention.
“Shopping is part of the picture. But following the pandemic, people increasingly use high streets for leisure, learning, meeting up with friends, family, and work colleagues.”
When the Bee Trail Challenge is complete, the bees will be auctioned for charity at an event hosted by the Council Chair later in the year.
Chair of the Council Cllr Ruth Davis said: “We have so much to offer both people who live here and visitors and I hope this trail will enable as many as possible to discover not just what’s on their doorstep but further afield – and of course have a lot of fun while doing so.”
For full details on how to enter the South Gloucestershire Bee Trail Challenge, a map of each of the bee locations, information on all the artists and a full list of traders taking part visit www.southglos.gov.uk/shopsouthglos
