Successful inauguration of the new extension to the teaching apiary in Buchberg

Created: 07/01/2022, 20:00

By: Doris Schmid

Bees behind glass: Visitors could watch the hard-working insects live at work through transparent display hives.

© Hans Lippert

With an open day, the Geretsrieder beekeepers' association inaugurated the new extension to the teaching apiary.

Around 450 guests celebrated.

Geretsried – It is now well known that bees are extremely important for the well-being of all of us.

In this respect, it was not surprising that Geretsried's beekeepers' association was almost overrun by visitors at the inauguration of the new extension to the teaching apiary.

According to a press release, around 450 guests celebrated the open day with the proud beekeepers at Gut Buchberg.

Expanded classroom, new kitchen, wheelchair access

With their visit, local celebrities also documented how important the topic has become.

District Administrator Josef Niedermaier stopped by, as did Pastor Elke Soellner from the Protestant parish of Ebenhausen, Geretsried Catholic Pastor Andreas Vogelmeier, the second mayor of the city, Sonja Frank, and the district chairman of the Bavarian Beekeepers Association (LVBI) in Upper Bavaria, Josef Reithmeier.

The guests inspected the extended training room with the new kitchen, a wheelchair-accessible ramp and a wooden terrace from morning to evening.

In addition to an insight into the premises and all kinds of delicacies, the beekeepers offered their visitors a varied program.

After the official welcome by the chairman of the association, Frank Meinert, who recapitulated the more than 30-year history of the teaching apiary and the construction time of the new extension, the city pastor Vogelmeier and Pastor Soellner gave the church blessing.

Both clergymen recalled that "beekeeping is a give and take from divine creation".

County promotes treatment for varroa mite

In his speech, Josef Niedermaier referred to the numerous courses held by the beekeepers' association, some of which are of national importance.

According to the announcement, the district administrator emphasized that the district promotes treatment against the varroa mite, which is otherwise deadly for bees, with a special item every year.

Sonja Frank has already gained experience as a beekeeper.

The deputy mayor also thanked the association for the regular participation in the city's forest festival.

At the end of the official part, LVBI district chairman Josef Reithmeier praised the voluntary work of the helpers in building the new extension, because "money alone is not the reason for a project like this to succeed".

As reported, the association had collected 50,000 euros in donations for the approximately 100,000 euros expansion, received a low-interest loan from the Bavarian Beekeepers Association and invested more than 1,600 hours of volunteer work in the construction.

Journey through the history of beekeeping

After the speeches, the guests were able to embark on a journey through the history of beekeeping with the historical hives and tools on display, watch the bees live at work in two display hives through glass and listen to the sounds under umbrellas or in the shady teaching apiary with drinks and good food listen to the Demmel siblings from Königsdorf.

They could buy freshly spun honey and watch a slide show about the construction of the teaching apiary and a short film.

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Quiz for children with questions about bees

Children didn't get bored either: they were able to prove themselves in a quiz with questions about bees, watch the puppet theater "Punch and the Kidnapped Queen", play with helium bee balloons and paint with colorful sidewalk chalk.

After a day that was as strenuous as it was entertaining, Frank Meinert drew a satisfied balance: "It was an all-round successful event." The beekeeper boss thanked "all the hard-working helpers and donors" who made this festival possible.

Now the chairman is looking forward to the first events in the new training room.

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