THERE is a buzz around Bolton's new school.

For students at UTC Bolton have been busy learning about the biology of bees ahead of receiving their own hive this spring.

The year 12 class started the project to learn how honey is made and the environmental and economic impact it plays.

Honeybees are crucial to the pollination of crops but research shows that Britain only has a quarter of the honeybees needed.

The number of honeybees in the UK and elsewhere has been in decline in recent years, with both pesticide use and disease being blamed for losses.

Studies have estimated that the number of British honeybees have halved over the past 25 years.

Ahead of receiving their own bees and hive students from the UTC visited the well-established bee society at Bolton School.

Staff and students shared their knowledge, expertise and the necessary commitment for the management of the beehive.

Teacher Nasreen Issa said: "I want to provide UTC students with first hand experiences of beekeeping, gaining a good understanding of the principle and technique to a successful journey into becoming an apiarist.

"It will provide students with the understanding of economic value of bees as they are in danger of disappearing from our environment. Numerous activities disturb the natural habitat at a rate which gives them little chance for re-establishment.

"We hope to stimulate the ecosystem and provide an explanation of the inner workings and social structure of a bee colony – knowledge required to becoming successful beekeepers."