Orange Botanic Gardens story walk opens with Just One Bee

The children's title Just One Bee by Orange author Margrete Lamond and Sydney author Anthony Bertini, and featuring illustrations from Christopher Neilsen, is laid out on 20 story boards in the gardens for people to read as they stroll around the area.

Ms Lamond said they had partnered with Orange City Council, the Botanic Gardens, Orange Regional Arts Foundation and Arts OutWest to have the story walk installed.

She said they also planned to translate the text into the Wiradjuri language for a paperback edition of the book.

The book is the latest from the Orange-based Dirt Lane Press publishers.

Ms Lamond said it was envisaged the story walk would be in place for about six months and then be replaced by a different book.

She said she read about a similar display at another Botanic Gardens in Victoria.

"I thought we should do that," she said.

"This has given them [council] the idea to bring art works in, for us to do more books."

Ms Lamond said it was a new idea in a regional NSW area.

"I've never seen one before, I'd never, ever heard of it," she said.

"And with Dirt Lane Press we want to publish outside the square and also share outside the square, sharing it in the garden where people come that might not ever go to a bookshop."

She said the story was inspired by a story from a friend whose father was a travelling salesman whose car needed cleaning of bugs when he returned home.

"So we were talking about insects and the demise of insects," she said.

"At the time it was the drought and there were no bees, I didn't have any bees so we decided we'd use a bee as a sort of symbol of the demise of insects.

"At the same time it's a fable of having a dream and pushing through.

"It's about persevering with your dreams," she said.

Ms Lamond said it also reflected the work of young Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

The book is priced at $24.99. It's target age audience is three to six year-olds.

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