Bee Amazing

My children have always had an infatuation with watching science and nature programmes.  Essentially they grasp knowledge by the experience. 

Recently it was National Insect Week here in Britain, and the good old BBC had been showing a programme about beekeeping. This sparked a passionate engrossment with bees. And a long home school project...

Querying our local Entomology Group, I found local Green Project, whereby members of the community can help to rear fruit and vegetables and take home the harvest. The managing director of the project, kept bees! It really is a small world after all, and happened, to turn out to be a friend of a friend who agreed for my family for a closer look-see.

We observed a bee check, where the whole hive's health is monitored. Its important to know that the queen is there, first and foremost, and that she is laying. Checking for disease and that there is enough room for the brood as well as that the bees are producing honey. To be involved in this was the highlight of our school year! By observing the bees' activity in the hive and have their behaviour pointed out to us, the children learned far more than from a book or TV show. The beekeeper wants to put the girls forward for Young Bee Keeper of the Year! What a privilege! 

We would like very much to have our own apiary one day... For now, we have offered to adopt a nest from environmentally friendly pest control company, who relocate bees nests.

Keeping Bees - Vivian Head