Interactive Beehive Project Is Launched At Ynysddu Primary School

Pupils and staff recently welcomed visitors to Ynysddu Primary School for the launch of a new interactive beehive project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The SVH BEES (Bees Education Eco Schools) Project has been officially opened by Cllr John Bevan, Deputy Mayor of Caerphilly county borough during a ceremony which took place at Ynysddu Primary School. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The pioneering project, which is the first of its kind in the UK, involves an interactive beehive installed on the school grounds which provides pupils with the opportunity to learn about bees up close. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The beehive house contains an interactive section where pupils are able to work with the three bee hives and resident bees up close wearing special bee suits for protection. The beehive house also contains a viewing area where spectators can view the pupils working with the bees without themselves being in contact as well as a sealed observation hive to enable pupils to see inside without being within the same area as the bees. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pupils from Ynysddu Primary School and Cwmfelinfach Primary School will continue to work with the bee hive house one day a week as part of their enriched curriculum. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Other schools will also have the opportunity to visit the interactive bee hive house where they can take part in an interactive workshop, learning to manage and maintain beehives. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said: “I am delighted that the SVH BEES Project has now had its official launch. The project will enable pupils to learn the importance of pollinators, as well as the art of bee keeping. Honeybees account for 80% of all insect pollination and with a decline in our pollinators, it is important to understand their importance and to help protect them”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The SVH BEES Project is a partnership between Ynysddu Primary School, the Sirhowy Valley Honeybee Company and Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Sustainable Development Team. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project has been funded by the Keep Wales Tidy ‘All Wales Grant’, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Greener Caerphilly grant as well as the Council’s Regeneration Fund. The project has also received support Sustainable Development Team, Ynysddu Primary School and the Sirhowy Valley Honeybee Company Ltd. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​