Young inventors at Cosby Primary win big with buzzing beehive prize!
Cosby Primary crowned champions of national Wallace & Gromit contest
Creative kids at Cosby Primary School have been buzzing with excitement after clinching first place in the UK Intellectual Property Office’s (IPO) ‘Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Ideas Competition’. Their reward? A beehive with 10,000 bees and a sustainable home located in the scenic green hills of Neath, South Wales, thanks to local firm Bee1.
The pupils, aged 4 to 11, will get live-stream access to their hive all year, plus updates from a dedicated beekeeper. They’ve even crafted eco-friendly ‘bee bombs’ to scatter wildflower seeds around their community, boosting local biodiversity.
From sketch to hive: How young minds created eco-friendly inventions
Last year, the youngsters dreamed up over 200 sustainable and inventive modes of transport for beloved duo Wallace and Gromit. Their designs powered a virtual 1,000-mile UK journey, inspired by bumblebees and the natural environment.
“Both children and staff were thrilled to welcome our own beekeeper from Bee1,” said Debra Gibson, Art and Design & Technology lead at Cosby Primary. “The children were amazed to learn we adopted 10,000 bees and had lots of questions. Our reception kids loved the workshop making bee bombs and sampling honey from our hive. We can’t wait to follow our bees’ adventures and enjoy more honey!”
Bee1 founder and IPO praise eco-education and invention spirit
Mark Douglas, Founder of Bee1, added: “We were proud to support the IPO competition by gifting the school with a hive and thousands of honeybees. Pollinators are vital to ecosystems but under threat, so it’s fantastic to engage young minds in protecting them.”
The IPO is keen to nurture the next generation’s inventiveness and teach them about intellectual property—patents, trademarks, copyrights and more. Partnering with Aardman Animations, the Cracking Ideas Competition equips kids with skills to protect their creations and brighten the future.
Laurien Webb, Senior Campaigns Manager at IPO, said, “Cosby’s young inventors explored the design process brilliantly and welcomed the chance to innovate. Feedback shows the UK’s kids are set to be a cracking bunch of creators.”
Wallace & Gromit inspire 14th Cracking Ideas Competition
The latest competition marks the 14th year of IPO and Aardman’s successful collaboration.
“We’re thrilled Wallace & Gromit continue to inspire budding inventors,” said Rachael Peacock, Senior Brand Manager at Aardman. “It’s been 30 years since the Techno Trousers wowed fans in The Wrong Trousers. We can’t wait to see what brilliant ideas young minds cook up this year!”
Know a creative child aged 4 to 11? Visit the Cracking Ideas website or follow IPO Education on social media to get them involved in this cracking national challenge.
