A volunteer group who are busy providing beekeeping training in Cambuslang are buzzing after their innovative and inspirational work was highlighted this week.
Scotland’s Climate Week 2024 takes place from September 23 to 29 and South Lanarkshire Council are urging projects striving to make a difference to the environment to share their stories.
Cambuslang Apiary Project (CAP) provides training for aspiring beekeepers with hands on experience, as well as producing tasty honey.
The project is ran by volunteers and promotes the crucial role that honeybees and other pollinators play in the world’s food supply.
Based in the grounds of the town’s Scottish Fire & Rescue Clydesmill Community Fire Station headquarters, the project also promotes the importance of supporting biodiversity in nature and highlights that even the small things can add up to help improve the climate.
CAP was granted £2465 from the Climate Emergency and Resilience Fund in 2023 which was issued by South Lanarkshire Council, utilising UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund monies.
The funding was used to expand the size of the apiary using additional slabbing, buy a new extractor, a pop-up gazebo and educational materials for the public and community groups.
Through the expansion of the apiary the group are now slowly building up the supply of honey to meet demand and provide additional income to help maintain the apiary.
A bee stall is also set up at local summer events and hands out packets of seeds together with leaflets on planting for pollinators.
It’s been a real success story for the volunteer group. The handouts have proved hugely popular with up to 100 packets being handed out at a time. It’s something that they hope to continue and expand upon in the future.
Councillor Norman Rae, chair of the council’s Climate and Sustainability Committee, said: “During this year’s Climate Week, every community group involved in work to improve our climate and the environment we all live in is being encouraged to share their inspiring stories.
“We are lucky in South Lanarkshire to have so many groups working so very hard to achieve their own goals, playing a small but vital role to tackle the climate emergency we are all facing.
“So I am delighted that this week we will be able to share some of the projects that the council has been able to assist with their own exciting and inspirational projects.”
Groups can share their stories on social media using the hashtag #ScotClimateWeek – more information is also available on the Stories for Change page at: https://netzeronation.scot/climate-week
The stories will showcase some of the ongoing climate positive activities taking place across South Lanarkshire rather than what is being lost due to climate change.
If you want to help combat climate change please go to the council’s website for more information on what you can do to help the environment.
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