Symondsbury Primary School beekeeping club

Symondsbury Primary School has been offered the opportunity by local volunteer beekeepers to form a club to teach the children all about the practice with the chance for them to obtain their junior certificate from the British Beekeeping Association.

The children will follow a course learning how to keep bees in a sustainable way, understanding life in the hive and the roles honeybees have, as well as being such important pollinators, according to Friends of Symondsbury (PTA).

A spokeswoman from the Friends of Symondsbury said: "The children will learn information about honey bees, including the fact they have five eyes, live in a colony with one queen - with up to 50,000 female worker bees and up to 10,000 male drone bees at the height of summer."

In total, six hives are being supplied by the beekeepers, but the PTA group said they need to raise funds to buy the children protective bee suits.

The spokeswoman added: "We would really love a hive that has an inspection panel on the outside so that more wary children could also see the bees up close without having to fear them.

"If any individual or local company would like to sponsor a bee suit, they are £30 each, and would urge them to enquire for the price to sponsor a hive.

"As this project expands the beekeepers would also like to open the apiary to other community groups in the future.

"All sponsors will be rewarded with a jar of honey and a thank you letter.

"We need to educate our children now to start the long journey of change to protect our planet, wildlife and food supply."

The PTA group said around 75 per cent of food relies on pollination, since the end of the war. The groups also said due to the UK's approach of intensive farming has led to loss of habitat and combined with increased pesticide use this has significantly reduced bees and other pollinators.

To help email blueskyskills@hotmail.com or call 07494 935650 or contact Symondsbury Primary School 01308 423502.