Colleges are usually described as being hives of learning and activity and Ystrad Mynach College is no different after welcoming more than 100,000 bees to its campus.
The three hives of honey bees have created quite a buzz among staff and students.
Martin Howells, a retired Lieutenant Commander in the Navy and an avid member of Cardiff’s bee keepers’ association, has helped the college create a new home for the honey bees.
The college hopes to raise awareness on the importance of the humble bee and has set the apiary in a quiet area of the campus dubbed ‘the garden’. Benches are to be placed in the enclosure so students can watch the bees get to work.
Martin will also be on hand to talk about his work and answer questions about the importance of bees.
Albert Einstein was one of the many scholars to recognise the significance of these insects and said: “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.”
Martin said: “Planet Earth is a big team game and we all have a job to do, working together, not working against each other, to make this planet of ours a better place to live in for all for us.
“Selecting various plants, such as heather or lavender, will encourage insects to visit your garden, in turn helping to promote a healthier and richer environment for any green fingered enthusiast.
“We can also grow, buy and eat food that supports local, organic and small scale agricultural practices. If we all did a little bit more to help, it really would go such a long way in preventing the decline of not only the honey bee but also humankind.”