Newham Grange Farm

There’s a hive of activity drawing in the crowds at one of Middlesbrough’s best loved leisure venues.

The busy workers are proving a draw for families from far and wide at Newham Grange Farm.

The stars of the show are the bees hard at work in the Farm’s historic observation hive which gives visitors an up-close insight into the lives of these fascinating creatures.

The unit has been installed in the recently opened Discovery Centre in partnership with the Cleveland Beekeepers Association (CBKA) which has had colonies of bees in an apiary at Newham Grange farm for a number of years.

Three of the Association’s expert beekeepers are on site every Friday at 2pm to inspect the hive and chat to visitors.

The hive was previously situated in the Children’s Room at the town’s Dorman Museum from the 1960s before being donated to a CBKA member in the 1990s.

Restored and repaired, the hive was installed in the Discovery Centre, allowing the bees to exit the building through a hole in the wall. The observation hive was designed and built by CBKA member Brian Hateley who maintained it and several others around Teesside, keeping honey bees as an attraction.

Ian Peacock, Chair of the CBKA, said: “We often use mobile observation hives at shows to engage people and encourage them to be more bee-aware.

“I’m always amazed by the number of local people whose recollections of the Dorman Museum include a reference to the observation hive.

“One of hive’s current custodians actually got into beekeeping at as a result of a visit to that very hive as a child.

“It’s great that it’s now found a new permanent home at Newham Grange and will continue to fascinate and delight new visitors and bring back happy memories for a great many people who will remember it down the years.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for a new generation of visitors to get up close in safety to around 5,000 stinging insects. “Brian Hateley produced a booklet on observation hives which is also available from our website for a small donation.

“It helps keep alive the memory of a wonderful beekeeper who did a great deal for his fellow beekeepers and helped to raise public awareness.” Councillor Mieka Smiles said: “It’s so important right now that we do all we can to support insects as they’re under threat like never before.

“That’s especially true for bees, so it’s vital that we do all we can to give them the habitats they need in which to thrive.

“All of us can do our bit - and that’s where amazing projects like the observation hive and organisations like the CBKA come into their own.

“It’s a great day out for all the family, and one that can help to make a real difference.”

For more information on opening times and activities at Newham Grange Farm, visit Homepage - Newham Grange (newhamgrangefarm.co.uk) For information and advice on beekeeping, visit Cleveland Beekeepers Association

Pics 1 & 2: Neville Thomson and Ken Grant (holding bee smoker) of the Cleveland Beekeepers Association with the observation hive at Middlesbrough’s Newham Grange Farm

Synth sci-fi oozing through Sapien Trace

In supporting the Musicians Against Homelessness cause, Newcastle trio, Sapien Trace, and electro synth-rock band, are continuing their upward surge in sound, beginning with the release later this month of their new single, More Than I Can Give. Fronted by Mark Dickinson the trio also features that of Alex Brand (guitar, bass) and Dan Baldwin (drums) they came about somewhat accidentally between late 2016 and early 2017, performing a couple of gigs a month ever since, that’s alongside Mark and his solo sessions, just for added awesomeness. “Yeah, myself and Alex met at a Halloween party a few years back,” explained Mark. “Then, in the February the following year, Dan joined in the fun and we’ve been performing a couple of gigs a month ever since. “At the beginning we were more a heavier metal sound though due to the musical influences on Alex. We were more into your likes of Korn etc so that was pretty much at the forefront of what we did. “Fortunately we’ve calmed the sound down a bit since then.” Quietly moving along behindthe-scenes over the past three years, releases gaining mixed reviews they have seen The Crack labelling them as being ’Sci-fi rock at its finest,’ whilst NE Volume went a little crazy when inviting music lovers to ‘Imagine Rammstein and The Prodigy meet at a party in space with Pendulum driving,’ “The last gig we performed (with Moodbay in mid-January) was one of the best we’ve done,” Mark continued. “It was a great experience with some new people. I will admit though, it has been a little difficult at times, doing all this, although we’ve also managed to ascertain some pretty decent reviews.” Now, with their impending new single, More Than I Can Give, set for mid-February release, the lads jumped in and recorded their new offering at Blast Studios, Newcastle, ready for the launch party at Beyond Vinyl in town. “The track itself is about your unrequited love,” added Mark. “It kind of shows how you rebuff that in a nicer way and is an idea that evolved from a few people that I know have experienced these types of situation and Twitter n over the years. “Going into Blast Studios, it was such an easy day as well. One which went quite quickly. “We all had a good laugh and had some rather bizarre conversations, something which we all wanted – we even found out that our drummer, Dan, is something of a pool shark! “We’ve gone through a lot though, but that’s good and we’re already working on some new material.” Trace enter the Battle of the Bands competition over Ashington way on March 5, then a week later head to The Globe in Newcastle to perform the Musicians Against Homelessness gig alongside AXLS, The Floral Detectives, and Holy Braille – an eclectic mix of musicianship.

Expected to be “a mashup of deep house and synthwave pop” Sapien Trace have their single launch party at Beyond Vinyl, Westgate Road, Newcastle, on February 21, check the event page via https://www.facebook.com/ events/1886579848152288/

More Than I Can Give will be available on all platforms and you can keep up-to-date with all their usual happenings via their website https://www. sapientrace.com/ and social media platforms Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ sapientracers/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/SapienTrace

(Image credits to Kai Eden, David Wala, and Paul Murray)