In a quiet space, under palm fronds in Meriden’s Senior School garden, a new community has taken up residence—one that hums with purpose and potential. The arrival of Meriden’s first beehive marks the realisation of a visionary student-led initiative, launched by Meriden’s 2024 STEM Captains, Annabelle Desmond and Anjana Kailasanthan.
Although the pair graduated last term, their legacy is now alive and buzzing, quite literally, thanks to the recent arrival of a colony of Australian native stingless sugarbag bees. The project, which began as a proposal in late 2023, was inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 – Life on Land.
“I wanted to bring something to Meriden that would boost biodiversity in Strathfield. My family has a beehive at home with stingless bees and bee hotels, so that sparked the idea,” said Annabelle.
Together, Annabelle and Anjana developed a comprehensive proposal to introduce a native beehive to Meriden. Their plan included curriculum integration, risk assessments, budget details, and hive design ideas to create cross-disciplinary learning opportunities in Science, Design and Technology, and Food Technology.
“The sugarbag bees do not sting. They are very tiny and have little pollen bags on their legs. Only the females bring back the nutrients the hive needs,” explained Annabelle.
The hive’s new home was chosen for its proximity to flowering plants and its accessibility for student observation. As the colony grows, it is expected to naturally divide, allowing for the creation of a second hive and further student involvement.
“Bees are a keystone species in the food web and are vital for maintaining ecosystems,” said Anjana. “It was great seeing the idea go from our paper proposal to being set up in the school gardens!”
The project was supported by Mrs Alexandra Phillips, Coordinator of Learning Link – Innovation, who praised the students’ initiative and research.
“The girls came up with the idea of improving biodiversity not just at our school, but across Strathfield,” said Mrs Phillips. “They looked into how the hive could be used across subjects, ensured it was safe, and thought about how to make it accessible to all students. I was really impressed.”
With the bees now settled in, the baton was passed to the 2025 STEM Captains, Misha Sengupta and Amy Chen, and the incoming 2026 STEM Captains, Sienna Lee and Brianna Ngo. Plans are underway to involve more students in observing the hive, collecting data, and exploring the unique honey flavours in Food Technology classes.
“I think this is an exciting project because it is unique, student-led, and something that will really make a difference in the ecosystem,” said Mrs Phillips. “It is also an authentic community project—we have had support from the Inner West Beekeepers Association and the beekeeper who supplied the hive is keen to stay involved.”
As the bees begin their work, so too does a new generation of STEM leaders at Meriden, building on a foundation laid by two students who dared to dream of a more biodiverse future.
