The next generation of beekeepers have been trained to look after Ladden Garden Village’s busiest residents after a successful search by the site’s volunteer beekeeper.
Seven new volunteer beekeepers have been recruited to care for their community bees after completing a three-day course. The site which is a partnership between us and David Wilson Homes has the rare addition of community beehives which local resident, Alan Stott from Chipping Sodbury, who’s in his 80s, has looked after for the past four years.
Alan has managed numerous well-established hives in Yate plus the two in Ladden Garden Village which can home up to 60,000 bees in the summer months. Residents from Ladden Garden Village will now be looking after the beehives, taking over from Alan who has been managing them until they could be looked after by residents.
LiveWest and David Wilson Homes issued a community call-out for help and jointly funded a beekeeping course and provided bee suits to ensure volunteers are well equipped as they care for the development’s smallest residents.
Our resident, Chelsea Parker, who took part in the course said: “Alan had a stall at Ladden Garden Village as part of a Bees Needs event by LiveWest where he showed potential volunteers the Queen bee and let us know exactly what’s involved in beekeeping at the development.
“I was keen to get involved and show my children that I’m interested in the environment and nature and tending to bees it’s a great example to set them. I’d love to involve them over time, so they have as much care for the community as I do. Bees are crucial to our ecosystem so if you have a beehive in your village, you’re more likely to be aware of what they do – it can help spark conversations about our planet which can only be a good thing.
“I suffer from anxiety so volunteering will give me the chance to meet and get to know new people from the village. In the summer hopefully, it will be hands-on so it will be a good way to get outside. Community Connector, Marie Burke, has done a great job to bring all the new volunteers together.”
Part of the training involved the volunteers completing a three-day course by Bristol Beekeepers which is a branch of the Avon Beekeepers Association so they could learn more about bees and explore what they could do with the beehives. Bristol Beekeepers has an apiary where residents can continue practising the craft with the support of an experienced beekeeper.
Chelsea added: “The sessions were informative and included practical and textbook elements – there was a lot of information to take in, but it was presented in such a way that it was easy for us to digest.
“Because it was part of the Beekeepers association, they provided us with information about how to get involved with the community and things to help us get started. I’ve been able to get additional knowledge from people who have been doing it for years, so it was educational and supportive at the same time.”
Marie Burke, our Community Connector, said: “We all know how crucial bees are for the environment and it’s important to promote greener futures and biodiversity near our homes. This is why it was great to see so many people respond to our call-out for volunteers and even more rewarding that seven residents want to continue on their beekeeping journey with us.
“It was always the intention to hand the beehives over to the community – Alan has played such an important role over the years but now he’s working hard to boost the confidence of volunteers and pass his valuable knowledge to them. It’s early days for the volunteers but thanks to his energy and enthusiasm, I’m sure they’ll continue to enjoy it for years to come. This is a terrific community project and I’m proud that LiveWest and David Wilson Homes are making positive things happen in Yate.”
Louise Ware, Sales Director for Barratt David Wilson Homes South West, said: “It’s quite rare to see beehives at new build developments but they can really bring communities together, as we’re seeing at Ladden Garden Village. Alan has done such a remarkable job over the years which is why we wanted to honour his legacy and make it as easy as possible for the next generation to take over. I’m excited to see the volunteers progress and make the most of this unique opportunity at the development.”