The first to hand is De Gezinskrant De Bond - The Family Newspaper The Union. De Gezinsbond- The Family Union - is a handy organisation to belong to. Their aim is simple: we verdedigen de belangen van de gezinnen - we defend the interests of families.

The articles in the fortnightly newspaper are of interest to parents bringing up children in Flanders: they deal with politics, psychology, activities, book reviews and a diary of the week in the life of a member. There are also handy contacts for baby sitters, and, as a member, you can get various reductions to ease the strain on the pocket of bringing up kids.

I must say I usually only give this paper a cursory glance, but this evening my eye is caught by an article titled Haal de bijen terug in je tuin - Get bees back into your garden. The most recent scare heralding the end of the planet has been the dearth of bees as reported by beekeepers. The Dutch for beekeeper is imker, which is one of those exotic-looking words I can't get a handle on.

The paper asks Hebt u dit voorjaar al veel bijen in uw tuin gezien? - Have you seen many bees in your garden this spring? Strangely enough I have, but perhaps that's just because I have been looking out for them. Various possible causes of a lack of bees are examined as well as ways in which we can help. Perhaps it depends on the sorts of flower in your garden. Or rather, when your flowers flower.

As the article points out, in het najaar ontstaat er vaak voedselschaarste voor de winterbijen - in the autumn there is often a food shortage for winter bees. It recommends sowing phacelia as late as August to provide the bees with food for the winter. It's an ideal bemester - fertiliser and het trekt bijen - it attracts bees.

The provinces in Flanders have been handing out gratis zaadzakjes - free seed packets of flowers, including phacelia. Check out your own gemeente - municipality – to see if there are any left.

De Gezinsbond is a feisty organisation that makes its views heard when the authorities have plans to makes changes that will affect families: kinderbijslag - child allowance, belastingen - taxes, gezin en werk - family and work, verkeersveiligheid - road safety, kinderopvang – child care, onderwijs – education. It has almost 300,000 members and sees het gezin als hoeksteen van onze samenleving - the family as the cornerstone of our society.

www.gezinsbond.be