A care home in the Fens was buzzing as they celebrated World Bee Day on May 20 and throughout the week.

Staff and residents at Hickathrift House in Marshland St James had a bee-rilliant time learning about the history of bee-keeping.

They also learnt about the importance of bees for food production during a documentary, by creating a honey cake and finishing the week off by planting some bee-friendly flowers in the garden with the care home’s gardener Riley.

The residents also visited the local Skylarks preschool for bee-themed crafts.

Paula Colman, general manager, said: “The residents all love to watch the wildlife in our garden so they were only too happy to help plant some bee-friendly flowers to attract more bees and butterflies.

“It is so important to look after all our wildlife but especially to help protect our bee population given their importance in the food chain.

“It has been great fun celebrating our amazing bees across the week.

“Residents were thrilled to join Skylarks pre-school and we’d like to say a huge thank you from Vicki and the whole team for the visit”.

Betty, a Hickathrift House resident said: “I loved visiting the local nursery and helping the children make bee crafts.

“Little Rosa, who visits us at the care home, recognised us straight away and took us to sit down for snacks and crafts. Bless her. What a wonderful morning”.

Created by the UN, World Bee Day is an annual global event raising awareness of the importance of bees and beekeeping for the survival of our ecosystems.

Three out of four food crops across the globe rely on bees and other pollinators but those pollinators are under threat from human activities.