Hi to all the boys and girls of St. Albert’s Primary.

There is a new free, easy to use  app available called Spot-a-bee, to download on your phones, that can help you to help scientists find out more about bees and give you another useful thing to do when you are off school. It has been created by Glasgow University’s School of Education and the University of Cardiff.  It is available on the Apple app store or on Google Play. I have already got it on my phone. Biodiversity is one of our Eco Schools topics this year and next, and this is a great way to learn more about bees and help their survival at the same time. This is also a project that other members of your family might like to take part in.

What you do is take photos of bees that you see on plants when you are out and about on walks, or in the garden and send the photos to the scientists, who will use your pictures to see what type of plants the bees are visiting across the whole country. When you do this, you will notice that there are many different types of bees with different coloured stripes which are used to identify them.

The information gathered by scientists will help to save bees from extinction by showing exactly what types of plants we need to plant across Britain to give them nectar to survive. It will also show you the best plants to put in your garden or in pots outside your door so you are helping nature. Scientists are hoping that the information they learn from this project will help them understand more about the anti-microbial (anti-germ) nature of honey.

There will also soon be a learning pack for children coming out soon on this subject and as soon as I get it I will upload it for you to use. So don’t wait download the Spot-a-bee app today and become a Citizen Scientist.

Miss Brooks