MORE than 100 people celebrated the launch of Alcester as a bee friendly town.

Free mead testing, live music, bee and flower-coloured friendship bracelet making demonstrations, and a raffle all helped to raise £100 to plant more bee-friendly wild flowers.

It is hoped the money will also help create a wild flower meadow and pay for more leaflets to raise awareness in local businesses and schools.

The event took place outside St. Nicholas Church at the weekend.

Members of Friends of the Earth from Alcester, Redditch, Dudley and Stratford-upon-Avon were in attendance for an amnesty to rid garden sheds of chemicals which harm bees and pollinators.

Alcester Councillor Nina Knapman, chair of the environmental sub-committee, said: “We are trying to make people aware of the plight of bees as people are just not aware of what is going on.

“Despite things being soaked we couldn’t of hope for better. We are very pleased with the result and how many people supported us despite the poor weather.

“We will do a much bigger event next year and we will have a bigger shelter to go with it. The success of the event showed the value of Alcester and its community."

Bee friendly plants and seeds were on offer.

British environmentalist Jonathon Porritt tweeted about the event he said: “Is Alcester the first bee-friendly town in Warwickshire? & how many bee-friendly towns are there anyway?!” (sic)

12 certificates were given to the best gardens for pollination in Alcester these included SECO Tools, St Nicholas' C of E Primary School and the Firefighter's Memorial Garden.

Due to the poor weather conditions the live bee hive part of the event could not be put on but all other activities continued as planned.

Bees play a vital role in fertilisation by helping to provide a more than one third of the food we eat.

The Environment Sub Committee organised the event with the support of Alcester Town Council.