Bee lovers urged to adopt a hive

• Mar. 23 by Louise Denny (0)

Beekeepers all over Britain are urging bee lovers to “adopt” a hive, to help improve the future for the common honeybee.

With the numbers of the honeybee declining steadily, the British Beekeeper’s Association (BBKA) are promoting a new campaign to encourage bee lovers – especially those who are unwilling or unable to keep a hive of their own – to help fund the protection of our fuzzy, winged friends.

The money will be used to aid research into the health of bees and support the training for beekeepers around the UK.

With the commercial value of honey weighing in between a massive £10 million to £30 million, it’s no surprise to learn that numerous areas of the UK’s economy could be affected.

Agriculturists and chefs alike could suffer if the number of honey bees continues to decline. So much so, that the Telegraph has reported that Michelin-star chef Raymond Blanc is backing the campaign.

As one of the main reasons for the decline in the number of bees in the UK is a lack of habitats providing food sources for them, I looked into the whereabouts of bee hives in the Midlands.

Two top hives in the Midlands

The Midlands boasts two expert beekeepers in our midst – Clive from Kenilworth and Jules from Mumbleys.

Clive has 34 years experience of beekeeping, and has even been a mentor to last year’s beekeepers from the BBC’s Farming Today programme. Clive’s hives are kept in a rural location with plenty of meadows, woodlands and access to a riverbank; giving the bees a wide cross-section of plants to feed on.

Jules has been a keen beekeeper for the last eight years, and her copse provides an abundant amount of apple blossom and hedge plants for the bees to thrive on. Jules is clearly passionate about beekeeping, as she says:

‘Beekeeping is always a fascinating challenge and every year is different.’

If you would like to adopt a hive visit the BBKA for more information.

Become a beekeeper

For those brave enough, there are also ample opportunities in the Midlands to run your own hive.

The Warwickshire Beekeeper’s Association (WBKA) hold meetings for current and future beekeepers for counties all across the Midlands; from Birmingham, to Solihull and Warwick.

Some of the counties offer exams to improve beekeepers’ knowledge on their hobby, others offer beginners and re-fresher courses and some even offer a free loan to help set up the necessary equipment.

If you are interested in finding more about the opportunities for beekeeping in the Midlands, visit the WBKA for more information.