THE Upper Hunter was a hive of activity earlier this month, thanks to a number of native bee workshops.
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Funded by Hunter Local Land Services and the National Landcare Program, the seminars took place at Aberdeen Public School, St Mary’s Primary School and Scone Public School.
Scone Landcare’s Ruth Hardy said the workshops were a huge success.
“They attracted 230 students from throughout the shire,” she explained.
“We engaged Matthew and Juliet Middleton from BeeZotted in Queensland to run the workshops.
“The pupils learnt how to identify a native bee, how small they are, about providing trees, shrubs and flowers for them at home, caring for bees, how bees seek nectar from flowers, cross-pollinating flowers and food crops as they go.
“There are more bees in the world than there are birds and mammals.
“We have 1600 recorded species of native solitary bees in Australia – and thought to be about 2000 species – as well as 11 different species of stingless bees.
“Native bees have been here for more than 80 million years.
“Matthew played the didgeridoo, weaving his tunes into stories about native bees.
“The Middletons also brought with them two hives filled with native bees - the entrance hole was closed up, of course, as the bees are used to travelling with them.
“At the end of each workshop, the children all lined up, each putting an ear to a hive.
“There were looks of delight on their faces when they heard the quiet hum of these tiny Australian pollinators buzzing inside.”