5. May 2026

Education in the community

Manchester & District Beekeepers Education and Outreach team Honeybee Presentations  

As part of the MDBKA E&O team, I have made visits to two nurseries

The visits focused on introducing 3-year-old children to honeybees. I tried to be interactive and engaging, using visual aids, simple language, and hands-on activities.

I began by asking the children if they had ever seen a bee, creating excitement by showing pictures of honeybees. Using a puppet bee, I explained how honeybees live in hives, collect nectar from flowers, and make honey. The children were encouraged to make buzzing sounds and mimic flying around like bees. It kept the atmosphere lively to say the least!

To explain the importance of honeybees, I told a simple story about Buzzy the honeybee, where she lived and how she helped flowers and food grow by moving pollen from one flower to another, then how they make baby bees using pictures of eggs and larva.

The final part of the session was about honey production. I showed a picture of honeycomb and explained that bees make honey to eat. I also gave them honeycomb for tactile experience.

The visit concluded with the children (and some adults), trying on bee suit veils and tasting honey. On the second visit and learning from the first visit I handed the honey over and let the teachers manage the tasting!

Throughout the session, I encouraged questions and participation. The children were eager to talk about bees and honey, showing a great deal of enthusiasm.

The visits were successful in sparking curiosity for honeybees in the children and fostering early awareness of the natural world.

So, lots of chaos and excited, enthusiastic children! For children of this age, (and me), sessions of 30 to 45 minutes is long enough. I even got asked by one of the children to stay for a party, but sadly had to be elsewhere.

Both nurseries made a donation to MDBKA funds.