Merseyside Caribbean Centre has been buzzing with junior beekeepers presenting the Metro Mayor with a jar of Toxteth honey. The children have been involved in a beekeeping project funded by our Community Environment Fund.

Community organisation ACE was awarded almost £20,000 to teach, train and mentor people with the aim of bringing beekeeping to those unable to afford the cost of keeping hives while educating communities about the importance of bees.

Twenty-four hives, each with thousands of bees, are split between two sites at the Caribbean Centre and on the roof of nearby John Archer Hall. Honey extracted from the hives is being sold – with the income put back into the project to establish a sustainable model.

Save Our Bees was among 58 projects across Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral that were supported by the £500k Community Environment Fund. These projects contribute to the city region’s green commitment by promoting community engagement in local programmes that lead to more awareness of environmental issues.

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram even gave it a go himself…