Hive-Minded: Bee Talk with Derek Blanche

In 2019 VISUAL developed the Sustainable Futures programme to raise awareness of environmental and sustainable development issues and in turn launched The Bees Needs Project. We launched the Trees for Bees project, in which we started a pollinator garden and planted hundreds of new flowering plants, bulbs, climbers and trees and installed a beehive on the grounds of VISUAL.

In 2018, growing concerns about climate change and our environmental impact led us at VISUAL to look at how we could reduce waste, energy consumption and our use of single-use plastics. As part of this change, introducing beehives and creating a more pollinator-friendly environment around the building was proposed.

When a rooftop hive proved unsuitable on health and safety grounds, St. Patrick’s College generously offered us a space that had previously housed 14 hives. With invaluable support from Head Gardener Larry O’Toole and the Carlow Beekeepers Association, the project began to take shape.

In 2019, we planted extensively around VISUAL, creating pollinator-friendly gardens, hedging, trees and our “Trees for Bees” initiative. We then installed our hive in May, and in July a captured swarm was introduced, establishing a healthy and thriving colony.

What began as an idea to support biodiversity grew into a collaborative project involving our team, St. Patrick’s College and the Carlow Beekeepers Association.

Join our resident bee keeper Derek Blanche to hear all about our Visual bee keeping story!

Bee there or bee square!

Tickets are free but must be booked. They can be booked online, in person or over the phone at Box Office. Wheelchair users and any group over 8 persons should book tickets directly through Box Office. If you book a ticket and cannot attend, please let us know at your earliest convenience so someone else can avail of the ticket. Further Terms and Conditions can be found at visualcarlow.ie/visit/booking-information.