Bumblebee-friendly Early Years Award
Inspiring young children to care for bumblebees and nature.
Do you work with children under the age of five?
Our Bumblebee-friendly Early Years Award is an interactive programme designed to help nurseries, preschools and early years settings explore the natural world through fun, hands-on activities.
To take part, simply order our Early Years Award box – it contains all the resources you need to get started. This includes stories, games and lesson plans to help you work through the four themed wings. Along the way, children will discover how bumblebees live, why pollinators matter, and simple ways we can help them.
Once you have completed the activities, you can apply for accreditation with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. You’ll receive a certificate and digital medal to celebrate becoming bumblebee-friendly.
What are the wings?
The Bumblebee-friendly Early Years Award is split into four wings:
Curriculum – Discover bumblebees through curriculum-linked activities, including stories, games and play-based learning.
Habitat – Create simple spaces where pollinators can find food.
Monitoring – Encourage children to get outside and begin observing bumblebees and other wildlife.
Community – Share your learning to inspire others to help pollinators.
Who can take part?
All early years educational settings can get involved, including nurseries, pre-school and home-educated students.
How long will it take?
Activities are flexible and can be completed at your own pace – if you’re organised, the award could be achieved in as little as a day!
Do I need outdoor space?
Yes, as the Habitat wing involves planting flowers. However, this could be as little as a single outdoor plant pot!
How it works
Getting started is simple:
- Order your Early Years Award box (£50) through our shop and we’ll ship it directly to you.
- Explore the activities using the guide and resources provided to complete actions across the four wings.
- Submit a short online application, telling us which activities you completed.
- Receive your certification and digital award badge.
What’s in the box?
- Activity guide for educators
- Exclusive interactive storybook
- Double-sided poster
- Bumblebee-themed card game
- “Luco”, our official bumblebee soft toy
- Activity sheets for each wing
Why take part?
Completing the award helps your setting to:
- Support bumblebee conservation and protect important pollinators.
- Help children build a connection with nature from a young age, supporting curiosity, wellbeing and confidence outdoors.
- Deliver meaningful learning specially developed to align with early years environmental education.
- Become accredited as a Bumblebee-friendly setting.
- Receive a certificate and digital medal to showcase your achievement, valid for two years.
Apply for your Bumblebee-friendly Early Years Award
Once you have received your awards box and completed your bumblebee-friendly activities, submit your application using the button below. You’ll be asked to share a little about what your children learned and the actions your setting took to support pollinators. The application is free.
If you need any help with your application, please contact: education@bumblebeeconservation.org.
Community Wing resource
Downloadable resource to help you tick off the Community wing. See your guide booklet for more information.