THEY are voted the country’s favourite insect as consistently as they collect pollen from flowers to make honey.

Pupils have picked up pencil and paper to draw logos that mark places which help bees to thrive.

More than 300 entries were made for the Bee-Friendly Logo competition launched by Denbighshire County Council in January. It came after the council was awarded Bee-Friendly status by the Welsh Government, which aims to encourage councils to become more pollinator-friendly amid a severe decline in bee populations.

Schoolchildren aged five to 14 took part in the drawing competition and designs featured the buzzing, yellow and black striped creatures surrounded by sunflowers, passing rainbows and at home in the hive.

Chloe Rebecca-Morris, 10, from Ysgol Bro Cinmeirch, Llanrhaeadr was the overall winner with a smiley bee. Her logo will be printed on all bee-friendly sites in the county, as well as materials the council uses.

Denbighshire Free Press:

Category winners included Aimee Archer-Jones, from Rhyl High School, who won the 11 to 14 age group; Reggie Dixon, from Ysgol Caer Drewyn, Corwen, and Steffan Davies, from Ysgol Bro Cinmeirch, who were joint winners in five to seven age group.

The council will also help each of the winners’ schools create bee-friendly zones.

Seven species of bees have disappeared from Wales and 70 per cent of insects are facing decline, however bee numbers can be restored by planting and restoring flower-rich habitats.

Tony Thomas, the council’s lead member for the environment, said: ““Bees are vitally important to the ecosystem, pollinating plants in gardens, parks and the countryside. Supporting bees is part of our work to enhance and protect the county’s environment.

“The standard of work was excellent and Chloe’s design really captured the spirit of the Bee-Friendly scheme.”