Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Bees
"Gopher" wrote in message ... In message , Ophelia writes A report on radio4 this morning, asking people to keep a bee colony in their gardens and even on a balcony (for example) for city dwellers. How practical is this? There are quite a few instances of this happening in other European countries although I have not seen it in the UK. I guess it depends on ease of accessibility to food source. A balcony on a flat in a small rural town would be somewhat different to that in a high rise block in a major industrially based city - even allowing for the greater awareness of the green issue. There was some mention of a food source, I didn't hear it all. I might look on 'Listen Again' and see if I get hear it all. How easy is it to acquire a bee colony, and from whom? |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Bees
On 2009-08-05 09:40:01 +0100, "Ophelia" said:
"Gopher" wrote in message ... In message , Ophelia writes A report on radio4 this morning, asking people to keep a bee colony in their gardens and even on a balcony (for example) for city dwellers. How practical is this? There are quite a few instances of this happening in other European countries although I have not seen it in the UK. I guess it depends on ease of accessibility to food source. A balcony on a flat in a small rural town would be somewhat different to that in a high rise block in a major industrially based city - even allowing for the greater awareness of the green issue. There was some mention of a food source, I didn't hear it all. I might look on 'Listen Again' and see if I get hear it all. How easy is it to acquire a bee colony, and from whom? If you're out and about today, this week's Country Life has an article on this very subject. Don't know if it's online yet. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics. South Devon |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Bees
"Sacha" wrote in message ... If you're out and about today, this week's Country Life has an article on this very subject. Don't know if it's online yet. Excellent! I shall buy one in the morning, thank you. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Bees
"Ophelia" wrote in message ... "Gopher" wrote in message ... In message , Ophelia writes A report on radio4 this morning, asking people to keep a bee colony in their gardens and even on a balcony (for example) for city dwellers. How practical is this? There are quite a few instances of this happening in other European countries although I have not seen it in the UK. I guess it depends on ease of accessibility to food source. A balcony on a flat in a small rural town would be somewhat different to that in a high rise block in a major industrially based city - even allowing for the greater awareness of the green issue. There was some mention of a food source, I didn't hear it all. I might look on 'Listen Again' and see if I get hear it all. How easy is it to acquire a bee colony, and from whom? As a beekeeper, I am very aware of the dramatic loss of bees in the UK. It is certainly true that bees in towns or cities are doing much better. This is probably due to the variety and abundance of nectar plants in our gardens and the very low use of insecticides in towns and cities. Bees were hit very hard 20 or so years ago with the appearance of the varoa mite, which caused many beekeepers to give up. More recently there have been outbreaks of CCD (colony colapse disorder), the cause of which is still unknown. Various theories have been put forward from mobile phone masts to a new virus originating in Israel - bees are regularly shipped worldwide nowadays so a virus can be disseminated rapidly. Most of the beekeepers in my area (northern Scotland) lost all their bees 2 years ago, and have found it almost impossible to obtain new stock. The only large supplier of bees are Thornes of Wormit (Tayside) and at the last enquiry the waiting time was 2 years. The cost of a starter colony of bees is in the region of £70 and when you add to this the cost of the hive components, you have an outlay in the region of £200. If anyone is interested in keeping bees, they should try and spend a couple of years helping an established beekeeper to get the hang of things, before investing in their own bees. I was without bees for two years due to CCD, but fortunately (and surprisingly) managed to cature a wild swarm this year and now have bees again. They are more 'pets' for me as here in the far north we generally only have a surplus of honey every 3 or 4 years. Phil |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Bees
Phil Gurr wrote:
As a beekeeper, I am very aware of the dramatic loss of bees in the UK. It is certainly true that bees in towns or cities are doing much better. This is probably due to the variety and abundance of nectar plants in our gardens and the very low use of insecticides in towns and cities. Bees were hit very hard 20 or so years ago with the appearance of the varoa mite, which caused many beekeepers to give up. More recently there have been outbreaks of CCD (colony colapse disorder), the cause of which is still unknown. Various theories have been put forward from mobile phone masts to a new virus originating in Israel - bees are regularly shipped worldwide nowadays so a virus can be disseminated rapidly. Most of the beekeepers in my area (northern Scotland) lost all their bees 2 years ago, and have found it almost impossible to obtain new stock. The only large supplier of bees are Thornes of Wormit (Tayside) and at the last enquiry the waiting time was 2 years. The cost of a starter colony of bees is in the region of £70 and when you add to this the cost of the hive components, you have an outlay in the region of £200. If anyone is interested in keeping bees, they should try and spend a couple of years helping an established beekeeper to get the hang of things, before investing in their own bees. Many thanks for that, Phil. Most informative and interesting! I was without bees for two years due to CCD, but fortunately (and surprisingly) managed to cature a wild swarm this year and now have bees again. They are more 'pets' for me as here in the far north we generally only have a surplus of honey every 3 or 4 years. May I ask, the far north of where? I think I might investigate the option that Sacha mentioned. Do you have any information on that, please? |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Bees
"Ophelia" wrote in message ... Phil Gurr wrote: As a beekeeper, I am very aware of the dramatic loss of bees in the UK. snip I was without bees for two years due to CCD, but fortunately (and surprisingly) managed to cature a wild swarm this year and now have bees again. They are more 'pets' for me as here in the far north we generally only have a surplus of honey every 3 or 4 years. May I ask, the far north of where? I think I might investigate the option that Sacha mentioned. Do you have any information on that, please? The far north of the UK, 40 miles north of Inverness. Sorry, I don't have any specific information about Bumblebees, but you can glean a lot from Phil |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Bees
Phil Gurr wrote:
The far north of the UK, 40 miles north of Inverness. Sorry, I don't have any specific information about Bumblebees, but you can glean a lot from Google Thanks very much, Phil I will have a wee search ps I know Inverness We used to live in Aviemore. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Bees
"Martin" wrote in message ... You could enquire here. http://www.britishbee.org.uk/ http://www.britishbee.org.uk/getting_started.php Thank you for these. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Bees invaded my little outdoor frog habitat (how to get rid of bees) | Lawns | |||
Bees in your Garden? | North Carolina | |||
Bees in your Garden? | Gardening | |||
[IBC] Bees and My Trees | Bonsai | |||
Bees and My Trees | Bonsai |