Penrith & District Beekeepers Association (PBKA) has its Teaching Apiary at Acorn Bank, the National Trust property at Temple Sowerby. From time to time visits are arranged for community groups that are interested in learning more about bees, pollinators and the work of beekeepers. This summer, for the first time, a group of Young Carers from the Eden area were invited to come along as part of their summer activity programme.
The group of 7-13 year olds were accompanied by two members of Eden Carer staff . The session was led by two PBKA Members , and one of the PBKA apiary managers who helped by supplying an observation hive to ensure that the children could safely take a closer look at bees during the session.
Informal learning activities initially took place in the main drawing room of the house when the children were introduced to the defining features of bumblebees, solitary bees and honey bees and their life cycles. They sorted silk flowers into those that were/ were not ‘bee friendly’, tasted different types of honey and made wax candles.
As the weather was fine, these were followed by taking a walk through the gardens where the children were encouraged to spot bee friendly flowers and watch the bees gathering pollen and nectar. The trail led to the apiary where the children could see the bees entering and leaving the hives. On the way back to the house, they were provided with kits to help them to safely catch and identify different types of bumble bees. At the end of the day, the children were given a bag in which to carry home their candle and information cards about the Asian Hornet.
Before they left, the staff and children wrote a few comments on their experience. These included
‘I enjoyed: everything; honey tasting; bee catching; looking at the bee hives; making the candles ; every part of the day; It was very informative and doing the activities it was good everyone got involved; catching the different kinds of bees and trying the honey. ‘
‘I will remember: The children being so enthralled and concentrating! How hardworking bees are and to keep a watch for Asian Hornets; All of it- fantastic day- thank you; catching the bumble bees and making candles; what an Asian Hornet looks like; what a bumble bee looks like and how they are different from a honey bee.’