Native stingless bees at home in Hunters Hill

Hunter’s Hill Council has supported 1^st Hunters Hill Scout Group to become custodians of a native stingless bee hive.

This community engagement project supports residents to understand more about native stingless bees.

The intent of the hive is as an education tool for the whole community.

The Scouts will care for the hive, with support from leaders Lori Graff, Kathy Ward, Tony Atkinson and Sara Micevski, as part of earning their environment badges.

Mrs Graff said the Scouts were pleased to be working with Council to make the hive installation happen.

“The kids can work on their badges while they’re taking care of the garden and the bees,” she said.

Councillor Elizabeth Krassoi said the Scouts had foraged council clean-ups for materials that were repurposed to make the protective outer housing for the hive.

“Thank you to Hunters Hill Scouts for taking on this project and supporting our little pollinators,” she said.

Scout Henry Squires said bees were very important to the environment.

“If we didn’t have bees then: one, bee farmers wouldn’t have bees to make honey; two, there wouldn’t be as many plants and; three, you wouldn’t have honey toast,” he said.

Reducing use of pesticides, planting native plants and setting up a bee hive were ways in which people could attract bees to their own garden, Henry said.

Bee educator and native beekeeper, meliponist Allyson Apte, said it was hoped the hive would increase environmental awareness, particularly about the difficulties bees were facing.

“They are endangered,” she said.

“We’ve got land clearing and drought and floods and fires.

“When this happens their habitat is gone, their food is gone.

“Hats off to 1^st Hunters Hill Scouts and Hunter’s Hill Council for introducing native bees to the community.”

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