A SWARM of bees was captured at a Llandudno school last week.

Ian Keith Jones, the headmaster of Ysgol San Sior, located at the foot of the Great Orme said: “This was a swarm that was collected from the school. We have seven bee hives on site with an eighth hive on the National Trust Farm on the Orme. The aim is to compare the taste of the honey from both sites.

“The bees swarm when another queen emerges as you can’t have two queens to a hive. The bees are not aggressive during a swarm as the first thing they do is fill up with honey. The queen takes half the hive and half the honey to set up a new home. It is therefore very advantageous to catch the swarm.”

Ian added: “We now have a monitor in the school foyer monitoring hive activity.”

The school has developed a reputation for innovation and keeps bees as well as chickens. The Prince of Wales has received a pot of the school’s honey, and in return sent one from his home in Carmarthenshire to the school.