CHILDREN at Goldthorpe Primary School have been busy looking after their new bee hive.

The school has become a haven for all kinds of pollinating insects as part of the Polli:Nation project, a national initiative to raise awareness of pollinators such as bees, butterflies and beetles.

As part of the project, the school has developed its grounds to accommodate these insects - including setting up a bee hive populated by around 4,000 bees.

Outdoor education teacher Christopher Wharton-Lovett said: “We have been involved with Polli:Nation for three years.

“We wanted to think outside the box so the children have got another educational resource to learn from.

“They’re all really excited about it and want to get involved, and they can’t believe how many bees there actually are in the hive and that it all happens within this box.”

Goldthorpe Primary School is one of three schools in the Dearne region to take part in the project, alongside Carrfield Primary School and Highgate Primary School.

However, Goldthorpe is the only school nationally to have installed its own hive, with pupils building it and bees donated from a farmer in Royston.

The school is also involved in a national survey by OPAL Imperial College London, which looks to understand the current state of our pollinating insects by monitoring species that visit school grounds.

Christopher said: “The children have thoroughly enjoyed developing our school grounds which we hope will have a positive effect on the number of pollinating insects in the school and our region.

“The Polli:Nation project has already proven to be a valuable educational journey for the children and we are delighted to be contributing data to such important research.”