The ‘3B’s’ Broomfield Baby Bereavement Group has decorated one of the 25 smaller bees on the trail, which it hopes will raise awareness of the support that it offers to parents and other relatives after a baby has died.

The 3B’s is run by Julie Ellingford (pictured above) and Dianne Hodkinson. It was set up 15 years ago by Julie after her son died and she realised that there was nowhere she could go to talk with other families that have been through a similar experience.

Julie said, “Our baby bereavement group supports people from across Essex. We meet once a month at Broomfield Methodist Church where we have our own room and private peace garden. It’s a relaxed space where bereaved parents, grandparents and other relatives can come to support each other and talk about their loss, if they want to. Dianne and I also talk with our members between meetings, if they need that extra support.”

Julie and Dianne had read about Farleigh’s Buzz in the City art trail, we were delighted when one of the group decided to buy a mini bee for the 3B’s.

Julie said, “We are very pleased to support Farleigh Hospice as it’s a local charity that provides bereavement support to children and adults.

“Designing and decorating our mini bee has been incredible – it has brought our group together in ways that I really didn’t expect. People who might not talk very much at our meetings were happily chatting around the bee!

“We’ve called it ‘Hive of Hearts’ and it is on display in the Meadows Shopping Centre. The body is painted blue and pink, with the names of all of our babies in yellow honeycombs on the wings, along with the words ‘There is no footprint too small that it cannot make an imprint on the world’ and ‘Always loved, never forgotten’.

“We thought it would be just an art project that we could all enjoy but Hive of Hearts means so much more to us. Hopefully, other families who have experienced the loss of a baby will see it on the art trail and contact the 3Bs group if they need support too.”

Amy Ward (pictured), a member of the 3B’s group said, “I have found decorating the bee really therapeutic. Sadly, we lost our baby Finlay quite recently on 2 April. When I heard about this, I thought it was the perfect thing to focus on and get involved with. It’s really relaxing, and we can chat about our babies and catch up and reconnect in a shared experience.

It’s a group that no one wants to be a member of but when you do join you meet some amazing women who have been through so much. We lost a daughter, Amber, in 2013 and I was part of the group then. Then I had my son in 2014 and stepped away from the group as I felt it was difficult to have a baby when I know that other people would be going through a loss at that point. I didn’t want to be back in this situation again but it’s nice to reconnect with everyone, come back and feel like you are doing some good. I will be bringing my 11-year-old son Oscar on the trail.”

There are 30 giant bee sculptures and 25 smaller bees, including the Hive of Hearts, on the Buzz in the City art trail which is open in Chelmsford until 9th September.

For more information, visit the Buzz in the City website.

To find out more about the support available from the Broomfield Baby Bereavement Group, go to www.broomfieldbabybereavement.com

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The Buzz in the City trail isn’t just about spotting vibrant sculptures in the streets — it also takes you inside some of Chelmsford’s most treasured spaces. One highlight awaits at Chelmsford Museum, where bee lovers of all ages can explore the real hive of activity buzzing quietly in Oaklands Park.

Maxine at the Museum of Chelmsford tells us:
“The beehive is one of the museum’s most popular exhibits. The bees are able to fly to and from the flowers of Oaklands Park, collecting pollen to bring back to the hive and produce honey. The bees also help to pollinate the plants of Oaklands and the surrounding area. Look out for the Queen bee, who can frequently be seen in the hive.”

Your bee journey continues with the Buzz in the Museum Trail — a fun scavenger hunt featuring bee-themed artifacts hidden throughout the museum. Each one comes with quirky bee facts and a few surprises. Can you find all the ‘worker bee baubles’ tucked around the exhibits?

While you’re there, don’t miss the Diana Mayo (one of our talented Buzz in the City artists!) illustration from 2019, featuring bee artwork by pupils at Tyrrells Infant School — it’s a charming reminder of how Buzz connects communities across generations.

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Every year on 10 July, Don’t Step On A Bee Day offers more than just a quirky name—it’s a timely reminder of the vital role bees play in our environment, and how urgently they need our protection.

Bees are responsible for pollinating around one third of the food we eat. From apples and strawberries to almonds and tomatoes, many of our everyday favourites rely on these tireless workers. But bee populations are in decline, threatened by habitat loss, pesticides, disease, and climate change.

That’s why this awareness day matters. And here in Chelmsford, it’s especially relevant as we celebrate our own buzzing tribute to pollinators through the Buzz in the City art trail.

Local Beekeepers Share Their Wisdom

To mark the occasion, Chelmsford Bee Keepers, proud supporters of Buzz in the City, have shared five practical ways we can all help protect our local bee populations:

1. Plant for pollinators
   Choose flowers like lavender, cosmos, and hollyhocks. These provide a steady supply of nectar and pollen, giving bees the nutrition they need throughout the seasons.
2. Cut back on chemicals
   Pesticides and insecticides can be deadly to bees. Opt for natural pest control methods and organic gardening practices to keep your garden healthy without harming pollinators.
3. Support local beekeepers
   Buying local honey helps sustain beekeeping in your area. You can find jars of Chelmsford-produced honey at the Full Circle store on the High Street—a sweet way to support both bees and local businesses.
4. Inspire the next generation
   Teaching children about the importance of bees helps build a culture of care and awareness that will benefit future ecosystems.
5. Consider beekeeping
   Whether it’s joining a local group or setting up a hive in your garden, beekeeping is a rewarding way to connect with nature and support biodiversity.

Creating a Bee-Friendly Environment

Even if you’re not ready to don a beekeeper’s suit, there are simple ways to make your outdoor space more welcoming to bees. Leaving small patches of bare ground can help ground-nesting bees, while bee hotels or bundles of hollow stems offer shelter for those that nest above ground.

And don’t forget water—placing a shallow tray filled with pebbles and clean or rainwater gives bees a safe place to drink and rest.

A Buzz Worth Celebrating

As we enjoy the colourful sculptures and community spirit of Buzz in the City, Don’t Step On A Bee Day is a chance to reflect on the real-life pollinators that inspired it all. With a few small changes, we can all help ensure that bees continue to thrive—for our food, our flowers, and our future.

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Yo-Yo the bee has been designed to raise awareness about the Yo-Yo Project, Farleigh’s community bereavement service for children and young people.

The bee has been decorated by the Yo-Yo Project bereavement team. The body features words from children talking about how the Yo-Yo Project has supported them with their bereavement. The wings are decorated with place names to show how the service supports bereaved children across mid Essex.

The design was adapted from an idea by a child who has been supported by the service.

Yo-Yo will be on display as part of one of the mini swarms appearing alongside 30 giant bees sculptures which will be creating a buzz all over Chelmsford City Centre.

For more information about the Yo-Yo Project visit www.farleighhospice.org/yoyo

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Rachel also arranged for me to meet with a specialist housing occupational therapist. She came to our house and gave us sound advice regarding our installation of a downstairs wet room. She drew up plans, detailed the specifications and sorted out VAT issues. Her advice has probably saved us from making incorrect decisions.

Tess organised for me to go to Braintree Hospital where I was given lots of advice about eating, drinking and speaking, which can all be affected by MND. I was encouraged to ‘bank’ my voice for future use through something called Speakunique, which is a great idea. I had to read 160 phrases from a book selection which were recorded. You have to keep trying until they can capture your voice properly, then it’s digitally repaired. They send you the samples to check that you’re happy and then the recordings are saved in the bank to be used with an app if I need to in the future.

 

 

I’m very excited that Girlguiding is taking part in Farleigh’s Buzz in the City art trail in Chelmsford this summer. It is particularly special to me now that I am under the care of the wonderful Farleigh team.

Thanks to Fiona, our District Commissioner, we have a mini bee sculpture which will be part of the trail. It is great for Girlguiding as it gets everyone involved, especially the children. We had a great day decorating the mini bee and doing lots of bee-related activities – all of the little bees on our sculpture are the children’s thumb prints! It also helps us to raise awareness of Girlguiding.

I continue to volunteer at Farleigh’s Writtle store. Obviously, since my diagnosis, I can’t do quite so much, but I still love going there.

Having only recently been diagnosed, the feeling of dread and hopelessness is still fresh in my mind but the support that I’ve received from Farleigh Hospice has made a huge difference. Without it, I don’t believe that our family would have been half as optimistic about the future as we are now.

If anyone else is in the same situation, I would encourage them to be brave and take that first step. There’s a big Farleigh-shaped hug waiting for you with friendly support and expertise that can really help in all areas of your life.”

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Their colourful creation was decorated by the pupils and named in honour of beloved staff member Beryl Dixon, who has dedicated more than 50 years of service to the school. Starting as a dinner lady in 1974, Beryl has since taken on various roles and now serves as the school’s Reprographics Manager.

Beryl visited Farleigh Hospice in Broomfield to meet her namesake and said, “When they told me, I said, ‘Oh my gosh, fancy naming a bee after me!’ I was highly honoured. In my 80 years, it’s the first time anything like this has happened. I love the design — it’s nice and colourful. Once I know where the bee is on the trail, I will be going to see it and having a photo taken with it too.”

Students will be challenged to find their “Beryl Bee” along the trail this summer and take a photo with her. Once the trail concludes, their bee will return to Chelmer Valley High School and be proudly displayed in the reception foyer, accompanied by a backdrop collage of the student photos.

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ECL, an Essex-based care services provider, has taken delivery of their eagerly awaited mini bees as part of the Buzz in the City art trail.

As an official sponsor of one of the giant bee sculptures, ECL is also proudly supporting the project with three mini bees, which will be decorated by customers from their Chelmsford Older People and Learning Disabilities Day Centres.

To bring their sculptures to life, ECL is collaborating with local artist Jennifer Flint.

Peter Fairley, Managing Director at ECL, said, “We are thrilled to be part of such a fantastic community initiative. It’s something our customers, their families, and our employees can all enjoy. Farleigh holds a special place in the hearts of many within ECL, so when we heard about this project, we knew we had to be involved.

We have already chosen the design for our giant bee sculpture and our customers can’t wait to start decorating their mini bees! They already have lots of design ideas and are excited to take part in the activities and workshops that we are organising. Community engagement is at the heart of our Chelmsford day centre offering, the people we support get so much fulfilment and enjoyment from creative activities, so this is the ideal project for us.” 

See the excitement in action when our Fundraising team delivered the mini bees to ECL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhVoGinNQds&ab_channel=ECLPerson-centredCare

Want to get involved?
It’s not too late to have your own mini bee in the trail! Contact arttrail@farleighhospice.org or call 01245 457411 to find out more.

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This summer, swarms of these mini bees will be buzzing about all over Chelmsford City Centre. Each mini bee will be decorated by a local school or community group. 

Pupils from Newlands Spring Primary and Nursery School were very excited when their bee arrived this week.

Jenny Lindop, Head of School said, “The Buzz in the City Art Trail is a wonderful opportunity for our children to get involved in a fun and engaging community project. Being part of a series of fundraising activities and then deciding on their design, our children will have the chance to take ownership of their own unique mini bee.  Imagine the excitement they’ll then feel when they visit the trail and see our Newlands Spring bee alongside the creations of other artists and groups. It’s a chance for them to feel a sense of pride and belonging, knowing that they’ve contributed something special to our city and to Farleigh Hospice.” 

We’ll be sharing exclusive sneak peeks of the bees being decorated very soon so stay tuned.

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On Wednesday 26th February, an exhibition was held at the Channels Estate of the 86 shortlisted designs that have been submitted for our giant bee sculptures.

Companies that have kindly agreed to sponsor a bee were excited to see the first full-size sculpture and then select their favourite artists and designs for their bee.

Farleigh Hospice also announced the two headline sponsors for Buzz in the City which are Teledyne, based in Waterhouse Lane, Chelmsford, and Fisher Jones Greenwood Solicitors, which has offices across Essex and in Sudbury and London.

Joanne Jones, Head of Site Services, and Sam Philbrick, Charities Committee Chair, from Teledyne said, “Teledyne are proud to be a headline sponsor for the Buzz in the City event supporting Farleigh Hospice. This is a fantastic opportunity to give back to our community and support vital services like those provided by Farleigh. This sponsorship not only allows us to contribute to a great cause but also provides a platform to connect with local businesses and residents, enhancing our community involvement.”

Gregory John, Partner and Head of Private Client at Fisher Jones Greenwood, added, “Fisher Jones Greenwood is delighted to support Farleigh Hospice and their Buzz in the City art trail. Throughout my professional career, I have had the privilege of working closely with Farleigh Hospice and have witnessed first-hand the incredible impact they have on Chelmsford and the surrounding area. Both personally and professionally, I know how invaluable their work is in providing compassionate care and support to those in need. We are proud to contribute to such a meaningful cause and help ensure that Farleigh Hospice can continue their vital services for our community.”

There are still opportunities to be part of this high-profile art event which is expected to bring thousands of visitors into Chelmsford.

Businesses can sponsor a giant bee and have their details clearly visible to all on its plinth and on the art trail’s map, mobile app, social media and website.

Schools, youth organisations, care homes and community groups can also take part with their own ‘mini bee’ sculpture to design, decorate and name which they can keep at the end of the trail.

To find out more, email arttrail@farleighhospice.org. 

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Schools, care homes and community groups can ‘bee’ part of the buzz with their own mini bee sculpture which they can design, decorate and name. It will be displayed in Chelmsford as part of the art trail for visitors to admire and then returned to them as a lasting keepsake of this exciting event.

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a major art project and find out more about the important role of bees within our local environment. They can then follow the trail to see their mini bee and the giant bee sculptures while discovering exciting areas of Chelmsford they may not have seen before.

One of the first schools to sign up for a mini bee is Newlands Spring Primary and Nursery School in Chelmsford.

Head of School, Jenny Lindop, said, “It’s exciting that it’s an opportunity for all of our children to be involved – it doesn’t matter what age they are. We’re hoping they’ll be inspired to go and visit the bees within the city and be part of the trail that’s taking place in the summer.”

The children have planned a series of fundraising days that the whole school will take part in including a ‘wear your pyjamas to school’ day.

To find out more about adopting a mini bee and joining the swarm, 

Click here

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