A FORMER bowling green is abuzz with activity once again as the Darlington Beekeepers Association (DBKA) returns to the Denes Park for the summer.

The DBKA first took charge of the disused green in the Bowling Dene, off Widdowfield Street, in a pilot project launched last year.

They were given permission by Darlington Borough Council to site a handful of hives and following the first season’s success, the group have returned to expand the project.

Work is now underway to plant out a bee-friendly wildflower meadow on the green with the help of Darlington Friends of the Earth, and there are also plans to install a pond near the hives.

Malcolm Harding, chairman of the DBKA, praised the progress being made.

He said: “This is an exciting project and we are delighted that local residents and young people in that area of Darlington are getting behind the project and helping us establish this extremely useful resource for the people of Darlington.

“We are already working closely with local organisations and have worked out a plan for developing the site and to turn it into an attractive wildflower meadow which can be enjoyed by all.”

Stephen Harker, chair of the Friends of the Denes, said that feedback from the project had been very positive.

He added: “It is nice to see the Denes being used for something slightly unusual and to have an open space brought back to life.”

Anybody who would like to get involved with the community apiary can find out more at dbka.co.uk or visit the green on Monday and Tuesday evenings when members will be working onsite.