THERE is certainly a buzz on campus at one school this week – after a new swarm of 20,000 bees moved in.

St Edward’s School, Dale Valley Road, Poole, welcomed the bees last week after a donation from a local resident.

The school which keeps its own honey-producing bees and educates students through its weekly Bee Club, says it was delighted with the new swarm which settled into the school's spare hive just in time for World Bee Day on Thursday, May 20.

St Edward’s head of science, Stuart Keene, who runs the school’s Bee Club, said: "I’m pleased to say the new swarm is enjoying its new home.

"The bees were tipped out onto a white board and their natural instinct to head uphill and towards a dark space of the right volume means that after 45 minutes, almost all had made their way inside their new home and started making the wax needed to build their comb.”

Meanwhile, one of the Year 7 students said: "I love bees and it’s been amazing learning about how to check their health and look after the hives.

"I’m really looking forward to tasting the honey that these bees should produce around July."

The students of Bee Club now have two colonies of bees to look after.

Bees play a vital role in food production around the world and this year World Bee Day is spreading awareness to help support beekeepers and bee production after the negative impact that the pandemic has had on the beekeeping industry.

St Edward’s School says it is very proud to be playing a part in educating its students about the importance of these pollinating insects and to be contributing positively to the species’ future welfare.