What's all the buzz about? A South Gloucestershire housing development's on-site beekeeper is calling out for volunteers to help him care for the community's smallest and busiest residents. 81 year old Alan Stott, from Chipping Sodbury, manages the hives at David Wilson Homes' community at Ladden Garden Village, Yate. David Wilson Homes installed the beehives as part of its drive to enhance and protect wildlife and biodiversity on and around the communities it is building. Alan, who has been tending to beehives around South Gloucestershire for over a decade, is now looking to recruit members of the local community of all ages to learn more about the hives and help care for the pollenating honey-makers. A Friends of the Beehive group is being set up by Alan and David Wilson Homes, which is contacting its residents at Ladden Garden Village to encourage them to join. Local residents are being invited to the Bee's Needs event on Sunday 5th of September for a free, fun and educational afternoon at Ladden Garden Village. The event has been set up by the Ladden Garden Village Action Group. 30
Alan will be demonstrating with the community's hives at the event, showing people how to look after them, and recruiting for volunteers to help with the hives. Event participants will also be offered bee and honey-related goody bags to take home. Alan's passion for beekeeping began when the eldest of his grandsons, Joe, now 17, decided that he himself wanted to look after a hive of his own. Joe joined the South Gloucestershire Beekeepers Association and got his first colony of honeybees for his eighth birthday. Alan took classes with him on the subject and much like a bee with pollen, found himself drawn to the subject. Ten years down the line, Alan now has a range of hives under his care, with his latest right in the heart of South Gloucestershire's newest community, Ladden Garden Village. The now well established hive has been thriving for 3 years on the development of two, three and four-bedroom homes. Alan also holds talks on "The Mysteries of the Beehive" and interactive workshops for communities which help teach people the ins and outs of bee keeping.
