Shelley Street Community Garden is a much-loved, community-led space that brings people together through growing food, sharing knowledge and caring for nature in the heart of Toronto, Lake Macquarie. Supported by The Groundswell Collective, the garden is a living example of how small, local actions can regenerate biodiversity, build social connection and strengthen climate resilience.

This proposal seeks support to install a native stingless beehive at Shelley Street Community Garden, paired with hands-on workshops focused on pollination, urban ecology and caring for Country. Native bees are gentle, fascinating and perfectly suited to community spaces. They play a vital role in pollinating food crops and native plants, yet are often overlooked in urban environments.

The hive will directly support the productivity and health of the garden, improving pollination of fruiting plants while also acting as a powerful education tool. Through a series of accessible workshops, community members of all ages will learn about native bees, their role in local ecosystems, and simple actions they can take to support pollinators at home, on verges and in shared spaces.

Workshops will be delivered by experienced facilitators from The Groundswell Collective and local bee experts, blending science, storytelling and practical learning. Participants will gain confidence, curiosity and a deeper connection to place — values that sit at the heart of both Shelley Street Community Garden and the Awesome Foundation’s mission to spark joy, creativity and positive change.

This project leaves a lasting legacy: a thriving native bee colony, stronger pollination outcomes, and a community better equipped to care for biodiversity where they live. A small investment will create ongoing environmental and social impact — proving once again that awesome things happen when communities are empowered to care for nature together.