We had a visit from Eric, a bee keeper – now that it’s spring, we are noticing a lot of bees around some flowers. So Eric came in to show us his bees and to tell us a little bit about these fascinating creatures.

We had thought of some questions about the bees and his job.

For example – has he ever been stung? He said that he had only been stung once – today! he has had lots of bee stings. He says that not to worry unless you are allergic to bees as bee stings have a little bit of the same poison as snakes – so it might help you to survive a snake bite more. We don’t want to get bitten by either!

We asked him if he had to wear special clothes and he showed us his hood that is part of his special top.

And then he showed us his bees – he had a special glass hive so we could see what they were doing. We found out lots about bees! They never sleep. They do different jobs – keeping the eggs warm or fanning the pollen that is turning into honey or going out and finding the flowers. And lots more. We loved seeing them and feeling where the glass was warm for the eggs or cool for the honey. And when we were very quiet we could hear their wings flapping continually.

When Harrison and Thomas looked carefully, they could see that some of the cells were full and had been capped with wax – another thing that the bees make from their bodies.

So now we know what the bees are doing when they are hiding away where nobody sees….

Is there anybody who doesn’t know this very useful finger rhyme?

Here is a bee hive

Where are the bees?

Hiding away where nobody sees.

Watch them come creeping out of their hive

1 and 2 and 3 – 4 – 5….

buzz buzz buzz