Baldragon Beekeepers

The Meeting Centre - Royal Victoria Hospital - Dundee; 21 May 2026

We were very pleased to be invited to give a talk to patients and staff at 'The Meeting Centre', Royal Victoria Hospital. The Meeting Centre is a place where people living with dementia and other cognitive impairments, are in hospital, can go along for activities and chat to alleviate the stress and distress that can often occur during lengthy stays at hospital.

The staff are currently taking part in a project called 'Climate Wisdom' which involves the potential changes and impact upon our environment due to changes in our climate.

To coincide with World Bee Day (20th May), we were invited to chat about bees in general, honeybees in particular, about pollination, and the importance of bees to us and the environment.

We hope that we were able to provide stimulus for the patients and contribute to the centre's project. Our chat continued, and concluded with cups of tea, pancakes and the tasting of different honey's. What is not to like.

Forthill Nursery Group Revisited 18 May 2026

We were delighted to return to Forthill Nursery for another year to engage with a very young group of children. The challenge is to maintain their interest but fortunately they are desperate to answer questions. For this session they were asked to pretend to be a honeybee and act out the 'waggle dance' so more honeybees within the colony know where to fly to a good food source (nectar and pollen).

Kinnordy Estate

Our association attended the RHET (Royal Highland Educational Trust) - Angus

annual event again on 13th & 14th May 2026.

The event is supported by the Gifford Family, Kinnordy Estate staff and Gamekeepers from Dalhousie Estates.

On Day 1 almost 160 pupils from the Kirriemuir cluster primary schools got involved i.e.

Airlie Primary, Cortachy Primary, Eassie Primary, Glamis Primary, Newtyle Primary, Southmuir Primary, & Tannadice Primary schools.

On Day 2 there were 110 pupils from St Pius Primary - Dundee and Northmuir Primary - Kirriemuir Schools.

Images from Kinnordy (2026)

Sustainability Job Fair 24th June 2025

This event was jointly organised by RHET ACI (Royal Highland Educational Trust, Angus Countryside Initiative) & RNCI (Royal Northern Countryside Initiative);

held at Ardoch of Gallery

60 Pupils from Brechin High, Mearns Academy and Mackie Academy attended this event who are just starting their Higher and Advanced Higher subjects.

Special thanks go to our beekeepers Lil Black and Mary Bruce for attending and helping with this event, and engaging with the pupils.

Food & Farming Day - Angus Friday 6th June 2025

This event was supported by RHET Angus CI (countryside initiative) ahead of the Angus Show and held at the Brechin Castle Showground. Over 100 pupils from Brechin cluster P6s learnt about arable farming, dairy, oilseed rape, agricultural machinery, gamekeeping and BBA were at hand to engage, interact and inform about beekeeping.

Forthill Primary School & Nursery 05th June 2025

Our observation hive and honey tasting were the highlights for 44 children in nursery and 51 children in Primary 2. "I can see the queen", "I can see the queen" was the cry.

Messages to the children were to respect all animals, insects and one another.

A comparison was made between solitary bees (those that can exist alone) and honey bees that function as a colony (& so the benefits of team work) but that all pollinators are important and how our diet (the things we eat) is so varied because of these pollinators and, of course, the honey bee.

The children, particularly primary 2 - aged 7, asked some amazingly enlightened questions.

Arbroath Academy Rural Skills Careers Fair Event 05th June 2025

There are a range of rural skills courses currently available at Arbroath Academy. The Rural Skills Event showcased the variety of careers that Arbroath Academy pupils can access, both in the local area and further afield. Baldragon Beekeepers were invited to take part in this event to impart our knowledge and stimulate pupil interest in our subject.

The following activities were available at the event:

Wood carving - Tom Harris Ward (former Arbroath Academy pupil);

Ranger - Forest Ranger Angus Alive Team;

Beekeeping - Baldragon Beekeepers;

Farming - Royal Highland Educational Trust (RHET);

Gamekeeping - Angus Moorland Group Gamekeepersrs;

Industrial Rope Access - CAN;

Tractor Driving - Ringlink;

Aborist - Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE);

Moorland Management - The Heather Trust;

Horticulture - Scottish Rural College (SRUC);

Hunting Gun Dogs - Angus Moorland Trust;