MANX LOTTERY TRUST FUNDS NEW BEEKEEPING EDUCATION FACILITY
Manx Lottery Trust has awarded £4,500 to the Isle of Man Beekeepers Federation to fund a new education centre.
The flat pack building will be used to hold training, workshops and learning days for new and current beekeepers. At present the Federation uses community, church and school halls as and when they are available, however this offers no continuity for the members.
It is proposed that part of its popular Beekeeping Course, which has run annually for the past 15 years, will be held in the new centre. As part of the course, students man the Apiary throughout the summer months to get to grips with the practical side of bee keeping.
Cilla Platt from the Isle of Man Beekeepers Federation said: ‘The new centre will provide a permanent facility for beekeepers to improve their skills, meet for discussion and share experiences. We are very grateful to the Manx Lottery Trust for supporting this venture and helping us make it possible.
‘We hope to encourage the wider Manx community to look after and enhance the environment around them, encouraging individuals to do their bit to make a difference rather than just leaving it to others. We will provide training and talks on looking after pollinating insects in general, improvement of their habitat, wild flowers and useful flowering plants.’
Chairman of the Manx Lottery Trust, Sarah Kelly, added: ‘The Isle of Man Beekeeping Federation provides vital education and training on bees and we are pleased to support this project, enabling it to further increase its capacity and offering. It’s so important that we look after our bees on the Island and the Federation is doing a great job in spreading that important message.’
The Isle of Man Beekeeping Federation is affiliated to the British Beekeepers Association and is comprised of three local area associations; Southern District Beekeepers Association, Western Beekeepers Association and Ramsey and District Beekeepers Association.
To find out more about the Federation and the work it does, please visit: www.iombeekeepers.com
