Creating a Buzz: Local Schoolchildren Craft Homes for Bees at Worcestershire Parkway Station
This spring, the community is buzzing with excitement as Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership (CRP) unveil a unique public display of bee-friendly skeps — traditional beehives reimagined through creative, sustainable designs.
Worcestershire CRP received £1,000 from the Community Rail Development Fund to host educational workshops for students from Norton Juxta Kempsey CofE Primary School and the aptly named Honeybourne Primary School.
Students from the schools took part in three workshops, where they learned about bee conservation and the critical role bees play in our ecosystems before getting hands-on with gardening at the station./
In addition to the students, professional artists contributed to the exhibition:
- Sarah Hoyle – local artist who also painted a bee-themed mural at Oxford Station
- Maddie Moate – a presenter, podcaster, author and beekeeper
- Alice Baker – a Bristol-based mural artist
- Lucy Caddel – an artist from Shrewsbury
- Hattie Gordon – a Brighton-based artist
- Esther Rushton – born in the Lake District and designer of the Bee Friendly Trust’s wildflower seed packets.
Worcestershire CRP is committed to connecting communities through sustainable travel and creative local projects. By working with artists, volunteers, and environmental partners, the CRP not only enhances local stations but also raises awareness of vital issues like biodiversity and conservation. Initiatives like the bee-friendly skeps reflect the CRP’s broader mission: to make rail stations welcoming hubs of community pride, education, and positive environmental action.
Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership Officer, Fiona Saxon, said:
“This project is about more than just brightening up the station with beautiful art — it’s about inspiring our community to see the vital connection between pollinators and our everyday lives. It’s been an amazing project to see local children so engaged and learning about how the railway can support biodiversity. By showcasing these artist-designed skeps, we hope to spark conversations about how creativity can support conservation with the
railway at its heart.”
Director of the Bee Friendly Trust, Dr Luke Dixon, said:
“It has been a joy to work with Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership, GWR and the supportive station team at Worcestershire Parkway Station on this project. The unique art exhibit is a wonderful addition to the environmental initiatives at the station which we have been proud to be a part of. The enthusiastic engagement of children from two local schools
has made it all the more special.”
GWR Senior Community Impact Manager, Emma Morris, said:
“This exhibition showcases GWR’s commitment to creating spaces both for wildlife to thrive and children to be educated with the Easter holidays presenting the perfect opportunity for people of all ages to come along and enjoy it.
Being able to support local schools and the wider community in partnership with Worcestershire CRP, Platform, and the Bee Friendly Trust has been an absolute joy, culminating in this beautiful display which is accessible to all who visit Worcestershire Parkway station and live in the community.”
Visitors to the station are invited to explore these one-of-a kind creations, learn about bee habitats, and be inspired by how art and nature can work hand in hand to build a brighter, more biodiverse future.
The Bee Friendly Skep Project will be on display at Worcestershire Parkway station until June 2025.