Hi everyone,
Time for a longer blog, I'm not used to all of this typing.
Have you heard about the swarm of bees that was rescused from a road sign at Saltholme? They've been in the news and everything.
A swarm of about 20,000 honeybees gathered on the back of the sign on the driveway up to the car park. To say that we were shocked to find them there is an understatement. We weren't sure what to do, so we contacted the Cleveland Bee Association for help. Toby managed to make this video of the swarm on the sign...
I found out loads about bees from Derek who came to collect and rehome them. Between May and July, honeybees often seek out new homes as the colony becomes too big for their hive and a new queen is about to hatch. The old queen leaves the hive and usually settles on a tree branch or post. Thousands of bees from the old hive follow, gathering in a tight mass around her. 'Scout' bees - or is that 'beescouts'? - leave the swarm to look for a new place to start building a hive.
The bees don't know how long they'll be away from the hive, so they fill their stomaches with honey to keep them going. Swarming bees are fairly docile and normally harmless. Because their stomachs are so full of honey, they can't bend their abdomen into the 'stinging position'. So, it's like the bees are lounging around on the sofa after eating too much, or that's how I like to think of it anyway.
The bees are now settling into their new home somewhere in Middlesbrough and getting down to what they do best - pollination. Flowers and crops depend on the hard work of our bees but sadly many of them are now under threat because of changes to their habitats.
You'll probably have seen that the RSPB is encouraging everyone to take small steps for nature – if we can take millions of small steps, it will add up and make a big difference. Stepping up for bees is a great place to start.
Why not have a think about what you can do for all kinds of bees in your own garden this weekend?
If you find a swarm of honeybees, visit the Cleveland Bee Association's website for help and advice.
Bye for now,
Ben.