Six Scots go beekeeping in the Azores
Six pupils from Craigclowan Preparatory School in Perth, Scotland, have recently returned from Terceira Island in the Azores where they learned about bees, beekeeping and the environment with more than 60 pupils from four other schools across Europe. The visit was part of the international Melissa Project about the importance of beekeeping in history and in different cultures.
The Melissa Project inspires young people to take initiatives and, through cooperation, hard work and leadership, create resources, overcome challenges and become successful beekeeping ambassadors. Melissa aims that every pupil will leave school environmentally aware, qualified, skilled, optimistic and enthusiastic about their role as European citizens.
The Craigclowan pupils shared their experiences – and communicated in different languages – with other pupils aged 7 to 15 in schools from Thessaloniki in Greece, Voru in Estonia, Angra do Heroismo in the Azores and Verbania-Pallanza in Italy.
For one week, they worked together presenting their research, visiting local apiaries and cooperatives, producing models of
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Melissa, from the ancient Hitite word melita meaning honey, became the Greek word to indicate bee. It was also the name of the nymph that secretly fed the god child of Zeus hidden on Mount Ida to avoid being eaten by the god Chronos who feared being overthrown. Melissa fed the boy honey, and milk from the goat Amalthea. Honey from that area would have been rather special – wild thyme honey, still much prized today.
beehives and making new friends. Staying with host families, they were treated to Portuguese hospitality at its finest.
“Last night I dreamt of our fantastic adventure and the new friends we’d made. It somehow didn’t feel real,” said one of the Craigclowan pupils aſter returning home.
Project coordinator Carol Dibnah said, “Through Melissa, we are continuing to explore the impact of bees on our culture, literature, arts and music as well the life of bees, beekeeping and the commercial and health products that come from bees.
“Having established the project schools as beekeeping schools, we hope to become an atraction and a source of knowledge for other schools and community groups. We will produce a guide to beekeeping for primary schools and community groups so that anyone can benefit.”
The project will culminate in a Bee Fayre, in June 2021, at Craigclowan School, Perth, where the pupils will show their entrepreneurial spirit by explaining the project, marketing their bee-related products and celebrating the project by inviting local beekeepers, beekeeping organisations and local schools to join the fun. Bee Craſt will, of course, report on the event.
Bee Craſt April 2020
Photos: Carol Dibnah, Enthoven CC BY-2.0
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