Dr Megan Halcroft, an expert on solitary native bees, gave a fascinating talk on the importance of native bees and pollination in our environment.

Bees are critical to food crops and natural ecosystems, but the abundance and diversity of bees are declining in many areas across the world, including Australia, due to the use of pesticides and chemicals and the loss of bee habitats.

Solitary bees need a safe place to build nests and lay eggs to ensure their survival.

Dr Halcroft taught staff and students how to make bee habitats for the bees out of natural materials, such as blackberry, bamboo and lantana stems; flat rocks, bark and aged gum branches.

The students were able to use these materials to create a variety of habitats within the new ‘bee hotel’.

The hotel was constructed by the Year 9 and 10 gardening students with the expert help of Sarah Hill from Bunnings and her husband Jason.

Lithgow High School is very grateful to Bunnings for their generous donation of tools, skills, materials and ongoing support.

The garden students are also creating a ‘straw bale garden’ around the hotel that will be planted with flowering plants to attract the solo native bees to the hotel.

Dr Halcroft will be returning in the warmer months to monitor and identify the residents of the new hotel with 7A.

Any community members who would be interested in being a part of this unique project are welcome to participate. Contact Rosie Galloway at the school on 6352 1422