Community cash for Penrith bees

Penrith’s local beekeepers are set to receive £1,000 cash from the Persimmon Homes Community Champions programme, allowing them to educate the public on the importance of bees.

The Penrith Beekeepers’ Association (PBKA) holds exhibitions and workshops to raise people’s awareness of bees and their role in biodiversity.

Persimmon Lancashire’s funding will be used to buy materials to run workshops where people will be able to build a ‘bee hotel’ to take home for their own garden.

PBKA spokesperson Margaret Riches said: “The charity has already raised £1,000 through the sales of its 2021 calendar so this generous funding from Persimmon will allow us to run workshops where at least 20 bee hotels can be made by adults and children visiting our exhibition.

“The donation will also enable PBKA to develop a set of information panels to create a portable display about bees that can be taken to community venues in and around Penrith.”

Diane Finch, Persimmon Lancashire sales and marketing director, said: “Our Community Champions programme allows us to support many different charities monthly and help the community where we are building.”

The funding was made possible through Persimmon Homes’ pioneering Community Champions programme, which sees each of the company’s regional offices make two donations of up to £1,000. Groups working with the under-18s can also apply to the company’s Building Futures scheme, which is set to give away more than £1million.

Details of both funding initiatives and online application forms can be found at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity