There was a buzz of excitement in Farnham as the Hive Helpers launched their inaugural Bee Trail walk as part of an annual initiative.

The Farnham Walking Festival event showcased the recently-launched trail which aims to highlight the importance of wild pollinators and their habitats across town.

The walk led by Hive Helpers Erica and Juliet took a group of nine adults and five children along nearly the whole trail from Gostrey Meadow to Farnham Maltings.

The trail featured 12 bee hotspots each containing a rubbing post for visitors to mark their journey. Trail booklets, which include spaces for rubbings, are available at locations including the library, the town council offices and the Museum of Farnham.

The walk showcased an astonishing variety of bees. At the beginning of the trail, participants were so eager observing early bumblebees, mason bees and cuckoo bees, that they nearly didn’t make it past the first stop.

Other highlights included tree bumblebees in Farnham Park, green-eyed flower bees near Waitrose and white-tailed bumblebees in the Bishop’s Meadow.

The founder of Hive Helpers, Erica, captured and identified different species during the walk, allowing participants to see the bees up close before releasing them.

The trail served to educate but to also actively engage the community, particularly children, who displayed strong enthusiasm as they raced ahead to discover the next rubbing post. The trail offers a fresh and interactive way to explore Farnham, while learning about the vital pollinator species, with all stops within a short walking distance of each other.

Hive Helpers will be hosting another Bee Safari next Thursday (June 26) with three more planned during the summer holidays. These events, which are ideal for children and families, are made possible through the funding from Farnham Town Council.

(by Lucy Fradgely)