BBC Radio Cumbria came to school this week to record the first of 3 interviews with us all about the new Bee Hide. As always, the children were wonderful! Professional, passionate and so enthusiastic about sharing their bee knowledge!   Radio Cumbria will be back to check on progress when the Hide is finished, then again for the Bee Hide opening in July.

Gosh! We have had so much going on in the Bee Team over the last two months, we have a lot to fill you in on!
Following successful grant applications to the Frieda Scott Trust & Lake District Foundation, we are delighted to have started the 'Big Bee Build' of our fully accessible Bee Hide which will allow us to share our bees, not just with even more children in school, but it will mean we can invite even more schools and community groups to come and learn more about these vital and fascinating insects! 

Mr Halliwell is dad to one of our year 3 children and also came to Heron Hill School when he was a youngster! So we were delighted when he said he would take on the job of building the Hide for us... (don't think he knew what he was letting himself in for!) 

Day 1 on the Big Bee Build and already the old apiary enclosure is removed and Mike the digger man is scraping off the turf to enlarge the apiary and dig out for the new paths. 

Week one...
Once again, our Beekeeping Buddy Mr Tett, helps out in sourcing some wood for the upright posts for the new enclosure!
​Craig starts the first 'lean-to' area, which will be to store our bee suits & get changed.  The first week went wonderfully, with mild spring DRY weather for Craig to work in... no such luck the second week, when 'Storm Ciara' and 'Storm Dennis' arrived in Kendal! 

Posts go in and our accessible raised 'Bee Bed' starts taking shape!
The Bee Bed, will be a teaching resource allowing  children & visitors to learn and appreciate which plants are particularly suitable not just for our Honey Bees, but solitary bees, bumbles and other pollinators.  

The enclosure is up! 
Mrs Harper and Mrs Cottam do some 'hands on' measuring, for the 'touchy-feely-glove' system which will be gloves going through the glass of the Hide, to allow children or visitors who are maybe nervous of being too close to the bees the opportunity to hold and feel the bees and frames in safety.