Bee the Change: How Our Painted Hives Are Telling Community Stories
When you think of a beehive, you probably imagine wooden boxes tucked quietly in a field or garden—functional, a little weathered, maybe humming gently with life.
But at Project Apis CIC, our hives don’t just hold bees. They hold memories, voices, creativity—and in many cases, hope.
Over the past few months, we’ve invited schools, care homes, community organisations, and artists across Norfolk to help us decorate the hives used in our community apiaries. The result? Dozens of vibrant, hand-painted beehives—each one telling a different story, and each one built with pride, not just for the bees, but for the people who shaped them.
Why Painted Hives?
We started the hive painting project for two simple reasons.
One, we wanted to give each community their own visible mark on the apiary—something more personal than just placing hives in a space and calling it “theirs.” And two, we saw an opportunity to turn something practical into something meaningful.
Whether it’s schoolchildren painting pollinators, local artists designing something bold and expressive, or people in recovery using art to share their stories—each hive becomes a reflection of its creators. It’s not just about beautifying a box. It’s about making a connection.
A Few Stories Behind the Bees
Here are just a few of the incredible hives now buzzing away across our sites:
🧑🎨 The Vault Hive
Painted by local artist Sydney Talbot and young people from The Vault Gaming Lounge, this hive features a mix of gaming icons and meme culture—an honest, joyful tribute to creativity and connection in the digital age. It's been a hit with teens and volunteers alike.🏫 All Saints School Hive (Lessingham)
Students at All Saints created a bold, nature-themed hive with guidance from The Artz Project and Gorleston Apiary. It now sits proudly in one of our apiaries, a lasting reminder of what young people can achieve when given the tools and space to create.🏡 Herring House Trust Hive
Perhaps one of the most powerful pieces, this hive was decorated by individuals with lived experience of homelessness and addiction recovery, as part of the “Voices from Homelessness” exhibition. Their artwork—supported by OriginalProjects and the Lived Experience Collective—is raw, emotional, and honest.🖌️ Peterhouse Primary School Hive
Installed at St Mary Magdalene Church in Bradwell, this hive is bright, hopeful, and filled with bees, flowers, and messages of kindness. Every brushstroke carries the energy and optimism of the young people who created it.
These hives now live in our apiaries—but they belong to the people who made them. And that sense of ownership is where real community begins.
What the Bees Teach Us
There’s something fitting about bees living inside hand-painted hives.
Bees are, after all, incredible collaborators. They work together, they adapt, they build. And they’re also fragile—just like the people and places we work with.
The decorated hives reflect this balance. They’re strong and functional, yes—but they also remind us to take care, to listen, to make space for each other’s stories.
Want to Paint a Hive With Us?
We’re always looking for more groups to get involved. Whether you're a school, care home, community centre, or art collective, we’d love to hear from you.
We provide the hive, paints, brushes, and guidance—you bring your creativity, your ideas, and your people. The finished hive becomes part of a working apiary, benefiting both pollinators and the wider community.
And more importantly, it becomes part of a growing collection of local stories, shared through colour, symbol, and imagination.
Final Thoughts
In a world where people often feel disconnected, these painted hives are a reminder that we can still build things together—things that matter, things that last.
Each hive may only house a few thousand bees, but the messages they carry reach far beyond the garden gate.
So next time you see one of our colourful hives tucked into a churchyard, school garden, or community space, take a closer look. There’s probably a story behind it—and chances are, it’s a good one.
🖌️ Interested in painting a hive with your group or commissioning an artist-led session?
Contact us at info@project-apis.co.uk or visit www.project-apis.co.uk for more details.
And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see the latest creations as they come to life.
