The Importance of Bees Biodiversity & Farming

The Importance of Bees Biodiversity & Farming - Summary

Covers the role played by Bees in world wide food production along with giving hands on experience on sowing and identifying Irish Wildflowers and exploring the inner workings of bee hives, honey harvesting and the bottling of honey.

Module #1 The Importance of Bees Biodiversity & Farming - Talk

• The talk will be given by a local bee keeping expert covering the history of bees, the role of bees in biodiversity and food production across the globe and threats they face

Module #2 The Importance of Bees Biodiversity & Farming - Hands on- Anatomy of the hive

• The hands on element guides the students through the design of bee hives, (empty ones!) allowing them to touch and examine the various elements of the hive. We will explore the different equipment needed to collect the honey, separate the honey from hive and follow the process all the way up to bottling the honey ready for sale, and of course we will also enjoy some honey tasting!

Module #3 The Importance of Bees Biodiversity & Farming - Hands on- Irish Wildflowers

Learn how to sow a wildflower meadow or patch, identify different Irish wildflowers and their benefits for biodiversity and the environment

Lunch (45 Minutes)

• Finish with Lunch in the SOLAS Food Court with pizza for students and a choice from menu for school teachers included as part of the course package

 Key points

• Group Size: We can cater for group sizes from 25 to 120 (Under 25 on request)
• Cost: Course costs from €20 per student depending on Group size

Format of the Day

• See below typical timetable for the running of courses depending on whether students are attending 1 or 2 courses in a single day. Note we are flexible on start and finish times and can start courses from 8.30am onwards to suit bus pickup times.
• Single Course: Arrive 10:50am, Course 11-1.15pm, Lunch, Depart 2.00pm
• 2 Courses: Arrive 9am, Course #1 9-11.15am, Lunch, Course #2 12-2.15pm, Depart

Relevant 2nd Level Subjects

• This course is relevant to a number of Second Level subjects including
  • Agriculture Science 
  • Business Studies
  • Career Guidance
  • Home Economics
  • Fun LCA course

Transport Options

SOLAS Education is easily accessible by road or rail

• BUS: Just 8km from Junction 14 on M7 Dublin to Cork & Limerick Motorway
• Train: is an easy and safe 1km walk from the Portarlington train station and has links to:
  • Dublin: 42 minutes, 34 trains daily each way, Return €6 per student
  • Roscommon: 69 minutes: 6 trains daily each way, Return €7.50 per student
  • Limerick: 92 minutes, 14 trains daily each way, Return €8 per student
  • Cork: 2 hours 9 minutes, 15 trains daily each way, Return €8 per student
  • Thurles: 48 minutes, 14 trains daily each way, Return €7 per student
  • Newbridge: 23 minutes, 29 trains daily each way, Return €5 per student
  • Athlone: 41 minutes, 18 trains daily each way, Return €6 per student