Ffiws, a makerspace run by Arloesi Gwynedd Wledig (AGW) in partnership with Gwynedd Council and the ARFOR Programme in Porthmadog, has helped a local business make a beehive which will be auctioned for charity.
A makerspace is a collaborative workspace for making, learning, exploring and sharing that uses high tech to no tech tools. There are many interesting machines available at Ffiws such as 3D printers, a laser cutter and a CNC machine.
Direct Bees who are a Bee Keeping equipment supplier based in Harlech, Gwynedd, North Wales have built a national beehive consisting of a floor, brood box, super, crown board and gable roof using 100% recycled materials. The wood used has come from a mixture of discarded floorboards and pallets, whilst the roof has been covered with drink cans.
Owner of Direct Bees Darren Walters explains “We worked with Ffiws to add some great design work using their laser machine. Having access to a facility like Ffiws has been brilliant. Not only have I been able to use their machines to add value to my product, but it’s also given me the opportunity to try machines such as the CNC and see if buying one for the business would be worth the investment.”
The hive will be on display at the Bee Tradex in Coventry on the 14th of March and the WBKA Convention in Builth Wells on the 28th of March, where the lucky winner will be drawn by Bees for Development staff. Founded in 1993, Bees for Development was the first organisation to articulate the reasons why beekeeping is such a useful tool for alleviating poverty while helping to retain biodiversity.
To donate and to be entered into the prize draw visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/directbees-beehive
Bees for Development focuses on simple methods of sustainable beekeeping, always using local bees and local materials. They have helped many thousands of remote and poor families to earn essential income to meet their basic needs. Bees for Development encourages farmers to make simple, low-cost beehives so that more people can harvest and sell honey, turning natural resources into sustainable livelihoods with great benefit for the wider environment.
AGW Project officer Rhys Gwilym says “We’re very pleased to be able to help local businesses such as Direct Bees to develop their products and businesses, and to support Darren’s commitment to raising money for Bees for Development. Ffiws aims to create a community of makers in the area and gives everyone a chance to access high-tech equipment for free. Funded by Arloesi Gwynedd Wledig (AGW) and ARFOR, Gwynedd Council the purpose of the project is to open temporary workspaces in disused buildings in communities across Gwynedd to provide opportunities for local businesses and the wider community to learn about new equipment and technology and experiment with them.”
The project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. It’s also part funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Gwynedd Council and Arfor.
The ARFOR Programme looks to develop the economy, create high value jobs and promote the Welsh language in areas in Gwynedd, Anglesey, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, by experimenting with new and innovative ideas. The ARFOR Programme is funded by the Welsh Government.
AGW are seeking innovative solutions to challenges facing the Gwynedd economy. They are doing this by piloting new approaches, some of which will succeed and then be replicated, while others may fall short of initial objectives, but the valuable insights from these will be used to inform future projects.
For more information on the charity beehive or if you are looking for bee equipment or friendly advice on beekeeping, please contact Darren via the website www.directbees.com