Through July to September this year Manchester is buzzing with the Bee in the City art trail that is getting people exploring corners of the city finding these colourful large bee sculptures. I am so pleased that a few of these bees have made it over the Irwell in to Salford and we have discovered and admired the ones at Salford Quays. Spend any time in the city at the moment and you too will enjoy seeing families seeking out these bees. Check your social media accounts and you will spot photographs tagged #BeeInTheCity.
These big bees make fantastic and engaging public art. People are tweeting about their favourite big bee and challenging themselves to find all the colonies of little bees in various venues around the city. Hopefully some of these people are also thinking about the beauty of bees and the threat many species of bee are under – did you know that over 270 species of bee have been recorded in Great Britain?
It is thought it was the industrial revolution that started the association between Manchester and the bee when the productive factories were hives of activity. In 1842 the bee was incorporated in to the Manchester coat of arms, dotted around the globe.
I haven’t followed the trail but instead have stumbled upon bees as I walk around the city. I came upon this bee in Salford City Council corporate pink on Bridge Street by the New Bailey and the River Irwell. Created by the artist Hammo, this bee has a stylised depiction of the Manchester skyline on its body.
Back on the road again 