Buzzing Busy Bees

The weather was dull and cool which was not encouraging for bees to be busy!  Eco Club children talked about what they knew about bees and then looked at our hive bees.  They found the Queen who was busy inspecting the egg chambers and laying her eggs.  Some bees did bring some pollen in and did a 'waggle dance'.  To bring home the importance of bees the children played a pollination game and at the end had to count how many pollen grains they had collected.

A first stop to look for bees was at our orchard.  The trees are heavy with blossom.

We searched and were lucky to find one bee.  She visited 16 flowers before flying off.

On our way back we stopped to watch the bees at the hives on the heath. They are there as part of the Richmondshire Bee Keepers Course being held in the Field Centre.  We could easily see all the bees entering and leaving.

Once back at the centre the children looked at different flowers and their pollen using microscopes.

Some pictures of bees to colour and Nasturtium seeds to plant were given to the children as they left.

Thanks to Lesley who ran the meeting and to Jenny for her help.