Beekeeper, 12, aims to share passion with friends

A 12-year-old boy, who reportedly became the youngest registered beekeeper in the UK, said helping the pollinators "will be a big step in changing the world" as he aims to spread the message to his peers.

Archie, from Addlestone in Surrey, began beekeeping when he was two and later went on to become the youngest certified beekeeper in the UK at the age of five.

Archie said it was "an honour" to have a decade of beekeeping experience at a young age and wants to share his passion with his classmates.

"I quite enjoy learning new things, like how they make honey or how they build up the hives," he said. "They have a really interesting life cycle."

He added: "Helping bees will be a big step in changing the world today. We keep polluting our planet with fossil fuels and that makes the world a worse place but putting bees in front of that would probably help.

"It's quite an honour. My classmates were quite shocked at first but now I have introduced them to the bees and they are thinking about joining the club."

Archie began beekeeping in his grandmother Lorraine's back garden.

Having qualified as a junior beekeeper at the age of five, he later went on to pass his adult qualification when he was 10, again reportedly becoming the youngest person in the UK to be accredited by the British Beekeepers Association.

Archie has also been calling on councils in the UK to help support bees by planning how to improve habitats for pollinators.

With the help of his grandmother, the pair have now set up hives at Archie's school.

Lorraine, who also runs the Surrey Bees group, said: "It was unbelievable seeing their faces.

"Archie is still very interested in it. Hopefully he will instil that in some of the other children."

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Surrey on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.