A NEW initiative is giving bees a chance to help improve the lives of older people.

The Haslingden Hall and Lodge Bee Keeping Club, based in Lancaster Avenue, is an intergenerational project between residents at the Orchard, Bacup Beekeeping Club and Helmshore Primary School.

The new club aims to engage both residents and children through the upkeep of bees, as well as providing craft and education sessions, and providing a thriving environment for the bees.

Building on the positive impact of the recent hen-keeping and creative arts HenPower project in the Orchard, the care staff were keen to extend this hands-on life skills activity, and to make use of an unused area of the garden to house the bee hives and grow a wildflower meadow.

Tracey Booth, activity coordinator at the 76-bed home, contacted beekeeping club who were looking for spare land to rent for the club’s hives.

She said: “We are excited to bring this hive of activity into our home, as it is a fantastic opportunity for the residents and children to learn something new and to strengthen the vital relationship we have with the school.

"Both our residents and the young people have been learning that the protection of bees has never been as important as it is now, and we hope that this project will have a positive impact on all involved.”