PUPILS in year 4 at St Andrew's Primary School at Buckland Monachorum have been enthusiastically learning about the importance of bees and how to keep them, with the help and encouragement of beekeeper, Alan Duncan.

The children have been finding out about the anatomy of bees, the roles of different bees in a colony and the parts of a hive during science lessons.

They have each made a hive frame and have recently had practical experience of handling bees on visits to one of Mr Duncan's hives, which has been temporarily situated in the St Andrew's Community Orchard.

Pupils in Year 6 have also taken part in a fundraiser event to raise money and awareness for the charity Soul Action, a partnership between Soul Survivor and Tearfund.

The initiative has been very successful and plans are being made to offer similar opportunities to pupils in other classes in the future.