Kiki and Joss Pattisson
Joy, wonder and magic – that’s what Gina Pattisson and her two children experienced on a Spring tour of our beehives. ‘It left us buzzing with excitement and stories for weeks!
By Gina Pattisson
Spring break is always a wonderful time to have the kids off school and be out ‘in nature’. However, this April we had the most amazing experience. Not only was it a great way to reconnect with the kids, we also noticed that the experience shifted our systems from winter to truly embracing spring. A sense of inner awakening to the wonder of life and the possibilities that looking forwards holds.
A simple bee. This was the magic we experienced. Only, it was not just one bee. Far from it! Humming and buzzing and gathering pollen and even hatching – we had a complete immersion!
My two children, Kiki (11) and Joss (9), and I joined an inspection of the Findhorn Hinterland Trust’s beehives, and we had the privilege of doing the first check after the winter sleep – in other words, for the first time in six months, since October the year before. Our guide was Jonathan Caddy, beekeeper and chair of the FHT.
Opening the hive with Jonathan Caddy
We began with the lovely drive up through the fields to where the beehives are tucked away, before climbing into the suits that make you feel you really are about to enter another world.
For the kids, of course, suiting up with big cloth helmets and gloves that come half way up your arms added to the sense of excitement and adventure! We were also briefed at the hut: don’t panic if the bees start swarming over you, stay calm.
We were told to first note the number of the beehive, and before doing anything, to observe it: are there bees going in and out? Are they all using the same entrance or are there (unwanted) extra entry points? Do the bees have blobs of yellow on them? If so they are carrying pollen into the hive! And a whole load more information and observational tips for when we opened up the beehives.
Joss Pattisson
Which is exactly what we went on to do… and what a treat and a feast it was. We identified some slight damage to the first hive, with bees using different entry points – note to have it repaired! Then Jonathan pulled out one of the boards and his delight made us all smile – a thriving, live, active beehive.
As we worked our way through the hives, we learned about how the colony functions, with one queen surrounded by female worker bees and just a few male bees, or drones. We saw lava of new bees-to-be, and thrillingly watched a drone hatching. My own awe was surpassed by the pleasure of seeing the kids’ wonder and joy at the experience. We put our ears close to the hive – WHAT a buzz, what a noise – and we also saw bees sucking up honey, glistening temptingly in the sun as we puffed smoke on them to keep them calm. An interactive, fascinating delight and huge learning experience for all of us.
It turns out there is much to say about bees – a topic that can keep you busy for a long time. Once we were home again, we had the joy of tasting the gorgeous honey from the year before as we talked about the importance of keeping them alive and thriving.
Hatching bees
The population of bees is like a direct mirror to the population of humans; their state reflects our state, and our survival depends on them. Sobering and also so special to come so close to their living quarters and way of life. An experience I can only highly recommend to everyone.
Interested? Visits to the bees take place on Thursday mornings (10am to 12.30pm) in summer. Please email [email protected] for more information.
What a buzz! Visiting the bees
Kiki and Joss Pattisson
Joy, wonder and magic – that’s what Gina Pattisson and her two children experienced on a Spring tour of our beehives. ‘It left us buzzing with excitement and stories for weeks!
By Gina Pattisson
Spring break is always a wonderful time to have the kids off school and be out ‘in nature’. However, this April we had the most amazing experience. Not only was it a great way to reconnect with the kids, we also noticed that the experience shifted our systems from winter to truly embracing spring. A sense of inner awakening to the wonder of life and the possibilities that looking forwards holds.
A simple bee. This was the magic we experienced. Only, it was not just one bee. Far from it! Humming and buzzing and gathering pollen and even hatching – we had a complete immersion!
My two children, Kiki (11) and Joss (9), and I joined an inspection of the Findhorn Hinterland Trust’s beehives, and we had the privilege of doing the first check after the winter sleep – in other words, for the first time in six months, since October the year before. Our guide was Jonathan Caddy, beekeeper and chair of the FHT.
Opening the hive with Jonathan Caddy
We began with the lovely drive up through the fields to where the beehives are tucked away, before climbing into the suits that make you feel you really are about to enter another world.
For the kids, of course, suiting up with big cloth helmets and gloves that come half way up your arms added to the sense of excitement and adventure! We were also briefed at the hut: don’t panic if the bees start swarming over you, stay calm.
We were told to first note the number of the beehive, and before doing anything, to observe it: are there bees going in and out? Are they all using the same entrance or are there (unwanted) extra entry points? Do the bees have blobs of yellow on them? If so they are carrying pollen into the hive! And a whole load more information and observational tips for when we opened up the beehives.
Joss Pattisson
Which is exactly what we went on to do… and what a treat and a feast it was. We identified some slight damage to the first hive, with bees using different entry points – note to have it repaired! Then Jonathan pulled out one of the boards and his delight made us all smile – a thriving, live, active beehive.
As we worked our way through the hives, we learned about how the colony functions, with one queen surrounded by female worker bees and just a few male bees, or drones. We saw lava of new bees-to-be, and thrillingly watched a drone hatching. My own awe was surpassed by the pleasure of seeing the kids’ wonder and joy at the experience. We put our ears close to the hive – WHAT a buzz, what a noise – and we also saw bees sucking up honey, glistening temptingly in the sun as we puffed smoke on them to keep them calm. An interactive, fascinating delight and huge learning experience for all of us.
It turns out there is much to say about bees – a topic that can keep you busy for a long time. Once we were home again, we had the joy of tasting the gorgeous honey from the year before as we talked about the importance of keeping them alive and thriving.
Hatching bees
The population of bees is like a direct mirror to the population of humans; their state reflects our state, and our survival depends on them. Sobering and also so special to come so close to their living quarters and way of life. An experience I can only highly recommend to everyone.
Interested? Visits to the bees take place on Thursday mornings (10am to 12.30pm) in summer. Please email [email protected] for more information.