Above: Some of the pupils enjoying World Bee Day.
Pupils and teachers at Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni enjoyed a day of pollinator-related arts, crafts and dance on Thursday 20th May to mark the World Bee Day. This was the first time the Welsh language primary school in Abergavenny has celebrated the occasion, after becoming inspired by a book written by one of its teachers, Mrs Carys Glyn. The book, Criw’r Coed a’r Gwenyn Coll, which means ‘the tree crew find the lost bees’ explains the importance of bees in the eco-system. It touches on the mythical creatures of The Mabinogion and has helped introduce pupils to the issues around climate change.
Sarah Oliver, Head of Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni said: “We are really proud to be able to educate our children, from such a young age on the important of the eco-system, of the importance of bees and the wild flowers they need. We have also discovered just how many of our parents are beekeepers, so we will be running a beekeeping workshop as a result.”
The children enjoyed dressing up as bees, beekeepers and flowers as they learned about everything apian with tasks including labelling a bee, making a paper bee, creating a bee collage, drawing bees and flowers, painting an acorn bee and – which the pupils were most excited about – learning the Bee Dance! World Bee Day is now set to become an annual fixture in the Abergavenny school’s calendar.
The timing of the event is fitting, within No Mow May. Monmouthshire County Council has also reaffirmed its commitment to selective mowing of the county’s public green spaces to encourage wild flowers and plants that support pollinators. The county is buzzing with determination to help make our gardens, verges and parks perfect pollinator environments.
Councillor Paul Pavia, Monmouthshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “It’s wonderful to see the photographs from today’s event. I would like to congratulate the teaching staff and pupils of Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni for all their creativity and for their boundless enthusiasm for learning about the importance of bees and the environment. Da iawn bawb!”
The World Bee Day campaign highlights key messages for every generation. For example, raising awareness that the greatest contribution of bees and other pollinators is the pollination of nearly three quarters of the plants that produce 90% of the world’s food. For more information about the annual event visit worldbeeday.org
