We have been talking to our friends at Chelmsford Beekeeping Association who have been recalling an unexpected school trip…
A big thank you to Mike Abel from Chelmsford Beekeeping Association for sharing this tale.
Guest Writer: Mike Abel, Chelmsford Beekeeping Association
On a warm May Bank Holiday a couple of years ago, the staff and students of New Hall School in Chelmsford were preparing for a lunch-time barbecue in the quadrangle. The barbie was alight, the tables laid and all seemed to be going well until some uninvited visitors arrived and threatened to spoil the occasion. A swarm of bees settled in an ornamental Judas tree just yards from the planned festivities (see image).
The call went out and two local beekeepers, having nothing better planned for a May Bank Holiday, grabbed their swarm collecting equipment and headed for the school.
The school’s Farm Manager met us and ushered us through to the quadrangle which was, unsurprisingly, rather empty. The bees had settled in a smallish tree, about 2m from the ground. In terms of swarm collection, this is about as simple as it gets. However, it was rather daunting to note the number of onlookers, at a safe distance or watching from behind windows. This was not the time for a botched job…..