12 April 2021

Times are hard for bees. On National Seed Day (Thursday 22 April) people throughout the Netherlands will be lightening their load by planting bee-friendly flowers. Thanks to Leiden University Green Office (LUGO), Leiden University staff can join in too. Register for a free pack of seeds to sow in your garden or on your balcony, and help increase the biodiversity in town this spring and provide more food for bees. LUGO has 100 packets available.

Why National Seed Day?

These are hard times for butterflies, bees and other insects in the Netherlands, but they play a crucial role in the ecosystem. Flowers produce nectar to attract bees that then transfer pollen from one flower to the next. As biodiversity in the Netherlands has decreased so too has the food supply for bees. For the eighth year running, two bee foundations – Bijenstichting and Stichting Bijenvrienden – are calling on organisations, municipalities, landowners and schools to sow flower seeds. New flower beds will have a big impact on the smallest species. LUGO and Leiden University are doing their bit for National Seed Day 2021 by providing 100 packets of flower seeds to its staff.

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