Beekeepers plant tree in Worcester cemetery

Beekeepers have planted a tree at a Worcester cemetery to mark a milestone occasion and help local pollinators thrive.

The British Beekeepers' Association is putting in trees across the country as part of150th anniversary celebrations.

In Worcester, a small-leaved lime tree has been placed by Worcester Beekeepers in the natural burial ground at Astwood Crematorium and Cemetery.

The site is maintained using specialist techniques to encourage wildflower growth, enhancing habitats for pollinators and other wildlife.

The group said the tree would be a magnet for bees as it produced a sweet scent, which they collect.

Beehives were first introduced on the edge of the natural burial ground in 2021, as part of an initiative to support floral diversity and encourage pollinators.

Lloyd Griffiths from Worcester City Council, which owns the cemetery, said the new tree would help wildlife continue to thrive.

"The natural burial ground is managed using the highest professional and environmental standards to promote biodiversity in the area," he added.

Worcester Beekeepers, which started in 1886, is one of seven such associations in Worcestershire.

Chairman Richard Neary said: "We are hoping for a better year for bees as last year was too cold and bees had to cluster to keep warm.

"If you would like to learn more about beekeeping then we have a teaching apiary where people who are interested in keeping bees can receive tuition."

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.