Staff and residents at Barchester’s Orchard House care home in Newport were buzzing when they celebrated World Bee Day on Thursday (20th May).
Created by the UN, World Bee Day is an annual global event raising awareness of the importance of bees and beekeeping for the survival of our ecosystems. Three out of four food crops across the globe rely on bees and other pollinators but those pollinators are under threat from human activities.
Residents had a bee-rilliant time meeting a local beekeepers, Terri and Carol from the Ark Park Apiary who gave a fascinating talk about their bees, the history of bee-keeping and also brought along their own Isle of Wight honey for a tasting.
Joan, a resident said:
“I have always found bees fascinating, they really are marvellous little creatures. We had such an interesting day today, I loved the bee keeper talk and sampling all the local honey, it was absolutely delicious!”
General Manager, Kim Fleming, said:
“Our residents all love to watch the wildlife in our garden so they were only too happy to help plant some bee-friendly flowers after the bee keepers talk to attract more bees and butterflies in. It is so important to look after all our wildlife but especially to help protect our bee population given their importance in the food chain.”
Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
A little late, perhaps, as the generation the apiarists were preaching to are the worst for liberal use of weedkillers, insecticides, and the concreted spaces we used to call the countryside. ‘Ooh, but it’s so easy to manage now, dear: and it does look clean!’