News — Buzzing into Summer with Bee Facts

 

At Culver Square in Colchester, we’re celebrating the arrival of summer by shining a light on one of nature’s most important pollinators – the honeybee. In early 2024, members of the Culver Square team attended the Colchester Beekeepers Association beekeeping course to become beekeepers. 

They are now members of both the Colchester Beekeepers Association and the British Beekeepers Association. Following completion of the course in the summer of 2024, an unused rooftop space at Culver Square was transformed into a honeybee apiary. 

Three hives were installed and are now thriving in the heart of Colchester city centre. The foraging bees can fly up to three miles to collect nectar, pollen, water, and tree resin.

Honeybees have five eyes

Honeybees have two large compound eyes and three smaller “ocelli” eyes on top of their head. These help them detect ultraviolet light, meaning flowers appear much brighter and more visible to bees than to humans.

Six legs with a clever purpose

Bees have three pairs of legs, with the rear pair specially adapted to carry pollen. This is why worker bees are often seen returning to the hive with bright yellow pollen baskets.

The waggle dance

When bees find a good source of food, they communicate it to the rest of the hive using a “waggle dance”, indicating direction and distance so other bees can locate it.

Collect more fun facts on our Hive and Seek Trail! Running at Culver Square from Monday 22nd – Sunday 28th June. Pick up a trail sheet and hand it back in for your chance to win a £50 gift card.

On 27th June, visit Culver Square for a FREE interactive event where you can:

Meet a beekeeper

Look inside a live observation hive

Try to spot the queen bee

This is a great opportunity for families and children to learn more about bees and the vital role they play in keeping our environment and food systems thriving.

Where? Culver Square, Colchester

When? 10:30am – 3:30pm, Saturday 27th June

Cost? FREE