Pupils get up and grow thanks to beekeepers
Children from Machanhill Primary in Larkhall recently got their hands on some gardening tools and wildflower seeds thanks to Avondale Community Beekeepers.
The beekeeper’s club, which aims to educate the community about the endangered status of bees and maintains hives across Stonehouse and Strathaven, visited the school to hand over some brand new tools.
The group were able to buy an assortment of rakes, trowels, watering cans and spades for 12 schools thanks to a £880 grant from the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) Community Project Fund.
“The idea was really to get the children involved in gardening and planting wildflowers, which the bees really love,” said David Paterson, co-ordinator of the schools’ initiative.
“We were overwhelmed by the response, with 14 schools signing up to receive tools and find out more about honeybees.
“With the money from the CSGN fund, and some of our own funds, we have managed to supply eight schools so far, with another six to go.
“The children at Machanhill have been so keen to get involved that we made sure we got to them before the school broke up for summer.”
Avondale Community Beekeepers were supported by Ernest Zimmerman and Liz Cooper of The Common Greenery in Strathaven, who helped the group identify a huge discount on the tools.
The CSGN aims to make a significant contribution to Scotland’s sustainable economic development.