The bee returns Olivia Higham’s wave (Picture: Mercury Press & Media)

This is unbeelievable – a bee has been filmed apparently ‘waving’ at a toddler that saved its life.

Nursery school pupil Olivia Higham waved hello to the insect which she had just rescued with sugar and water – and was delighted when the insect appeared to return the wave.

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It was the second time in three days the bee had been rescued by the three-year-old and dad Sam Higham, who are from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.

Young Olivia was delighted and broke out in a massive smile when the bee lifted its middle leg to wave right back at hear.


Sam, 28, said: ‘It’s like she’s made a great new friend, and a couple of people have said it’s like a real life Bee Movie. It’s really sweet.

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Olivia was delighted when the bee appeared to wave back (Picture: Mercury Press & Media)

‘On Thursday I went to pick Olivia up from nursery and we found this bee on the side of the road.



‘We picked it up and brought it home and fed it sugar and water.

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‘Once it was up and running again we let it out in our back garden.

‘Olivia loved it. She was really invested in the bee and interested in helping it.

‘I told her were we giving it sugar and water to help it and she kept repeating what I was saying.

The youngster waves at the bee after rescuing it with sugar and water (Picture: Mercury Press & Media)

‘Then on Saturday morning she was outside and she started shouting, “bee, bee”.

‘It was the exact same on we saw on Thursday and he was not doing too well.

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‘We brought it inside and gave it sugar and water again, and Olivia just started waving at it.

‘I was amazed when it started waving back. I thought I was seeing things.

‘Olivia was so excited and really loved it. When she saw the bee waving back and carried on doing it, it was a lovely moment.

Her dad Sam said it was like a real life Bee Movie (Picture: Mercury Press & Media)

‘She looks out for bees a lot more now.’

Darryl Cox, Senior Science and Policy Officer at the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, said: ‘It’s really great to hear our future generation are so keen to help bumblebees.

‘There are so many things you can do with children safely to further their understanding of bumblebees and support this species.’

Visit http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org to find out more.

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