This afternoon Friends of Hadfield Station and Friends of Glossop Station jointly hosted a Bumblebee safari from Hadfield station - the aim being to raise awareness of the environmental value of station gardens and planters for bumblebees. With 97% of wild meadows lost in recent years small connected areas offer bumblebees the chance to continue pollinating our flowers - vital for food production. Hence the Buzzing Stations project involving High Peak Station Friends groups coordinated by the High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership.
Joy Hallsworth - Friends of Hadfield - and Neil Williams - Friends of Glossop welcomed around a dozen children along with their families to Hadfield station. Joy then led a little tour visiting the platform planters and the approach garden where special emphasis was on plants that attract bumblebees. Getting particular attention was the planter on the platform created by Riordan and Finnan two local children whose enthusiasm for conservation last year led to a special hexagonal planter being created. And now it attracts bumblebees! the boys with help from FOHS continue to look after it.
Joy then led the group to nearby Bankswood Park to the Wildflower meadow below the new cycle track. This gave everyone time to chat to each other and look for bees. The focal point of this walk was the newly installed Bee Alive seat bench created by GLOSSOP ARTS PROJECT. The bench is beautifully made with lots of bee motifs and illustrations. Here we were able to discuss bee facts read by Evora and listen to a bee poem read by Maisie. Natalie demonstrated how bumblebees land and take up pollen. And everybody ended up flapping their arms to try and emulate the 200 wing beats a minute of a bumblebee!! After another half hour the group meandered back to Hadfield station to allow connections for local trains.
Before leaving Joy gave every child a Friends of Hadfield station mug as a memento of a very happy safari.
Joy and Neil would like to thank everyone especially the parents who supported this outing and Becky Styles Community and Sustainability Manager at Northern for permission to meet at the station.
Other High Peak Buzzing Stations bumblebee safaris and walks are available - self guided ones at Buxton and Chapel en le Frith.
And finally a big thank you to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust for information and support. A new publication Walking with Bumblebees in and around Derbyshire is now available from local Tourist Outlets or direct from the Trust. 9 local walks are highlighted with lots of well explained information including how to spot our iconic rare bumblebee - the bilberry bumblebee.
Joy Hallsworth - Friends of Hadfield - and Neil Williams - Friends of Glossop welcomed around a dozen children along with their families to Hadfield station. Joy then led a little tour visiting the platform planters and the approach garden where special emphasis was on plants that attract bumblebees. Getting particular attention was the planter on the platform created by Riordan and Finnan two local children whose enthusiasm for conservation last year led to a special hexagonal planter being created. And now it attracts bumblebees! the boys with help from FOHS continue to look after it.
Joy then led the group to nearby Bankswood Park to the Wildflower meadow below the new cycle track. This gave everyone time to chat to each other and look for bees. The focal point of this walk was the newly installed Bee Alive seat bench created by GLOSSOP ARTS PROJECT. The bench is beautifully made with lots of bee motifs and illustrations. Here we were able to discuss bee facts read by Evora and listen to a bee poem read by Maisie. Natalie demonstrated how bumblebees land and take up pollen. And everybody ended up flapping their arms to try and emulate the 200 wing beats a minute of a bumblebee!! After another half hour the group meandered back to Hadfield station to allow connections for local trains.
Before leaving Joy gave every child a Friends of Hadfield station mug as a memento of a very happy safari.
Joy and Neil would like to thank everyone especially the parents who supported this outing and Becky Styles Community and Sustainability Manager at Northern for permission to meet at the station.
Other High Peak Buzzing Stations bumblebee safaris and walks are available - self guided ones at Buxton and Chapel en le Frith.
And finally a big thank you to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust for information and support. A new publication Walking with Bumblebees in and around Derbyshire is now available from local Tourist Outlets or direct from the Trust. 9 local walks are highlighted with lots of well explained information including how to spot our iconic rare bumblebee - the bilberry bumblebee.
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