A short bee story: Yesterday, I saw a tiny female red mason bee submerged in a bowl of water a shop had placed under an overflow pipe. She was motionless. I didn’t know how long she’d been there. She looked dead. She’d clearly fallen in when trying to have a drink. 1/5

I plunged in my hand & pulled her out - just in case https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏" title="Folded hands" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands">. I put her onto my arm and moved her into direct sunlight, in the hope she’d warm up and dry out. She just lay there in a sodden, crumpled heap, without moving. 2/5

I was beginning to think I’d arrived too late. But after about 10 minutes, she began to warm up & dry out. She very slowly and very gingerly began to move. She then unsteadily tried to stand up. She wasn’t giving up! 3/5

I picked a nearby dandelion head to give her something familiar and nourishing to cling on to and gently placed her onto it. Then the miracle began. Happy video below! 4/5

She first began to feed & then started to clean her antennae & abdomen! After about 15 minutes of self-care, she flew away! Good times! (please remember: always leave a stick in unattended water so thirsty insects that fall in can climb out) https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏" title="Folded hands" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands"> 5/5