Get buzzing about bees

Susan Joyce, a customer from Chester-le-Street, got in touch to ask us to shine a light on the importance of our bees and what we can do to protect them. So, we brought in the professionals to help!

Susan says: “I first became concerned about the lack of understanding about bees when I saw a Facebook post about children killing a nest of bees they’d found. I wanted to find out more and sought information. I wanted to share this to help the survival of bees.”

Meet beekeeper Ken

We find out all about the amazing world of bees from Ken Clark, a beekeeper at Bournmoor Conservation Group, near Chester-le-Street.

Tell us about what you do

We’ve established six hives at a little wildlife area we created at Woodstone Village. The hives are in a valley and protected by cherry trees. The idea is to provide a safe environment to increase the local bee population. In the summer, each hive supports up to 60,000 honey bees. We take a natural approach to beekeeping. We cause the hive very little disturbance and don’t feed or interfere with the bees and this works very well. We do have an observation hive though, which allows us to remove the side of the hive to check on how the bees are doing - the bees inside are none the wiser!

Why are bees so important to us?

Bees are amazing. They play a crucial role in the world’s ecosystem. The honey bee is the world’s most important single species of pollinator, ensuring people and animals have the food they need to survive. If there were no pollinators, we wouldn’t have potatoes, strawberries, coffee, chocolate or cotton. In fact, one in every three mouthfuls of  our food depend on pollinators.

Why are they under threat?

Bee numbers are in serious decline in the UK and across the world. There isn’t one single cause but the three main threats are: the use of pesticides, the loss of habitat and disease.

What can I do if I’m interested in beekeeping?

Beekeeping requires specialist knowledge and the right equipment. Hives need to be in the right environment with plenty of space so it’s essential you do your research to get a full understanding of what’s involved before making any plans. A good first step is to get in touch with your local British Bee Keepers’ Association branch and take their beginners’ course or try a taster day. Find out more at www.bbka.org.uk

They also keep a database of beekeepers in case you ever need to contact them about a swarm or a badly placed nest. We always welcome new members to our Bournmoor Conservation Group too, email me to find out more jkclark2012@live.co.uk

Simple ways to help bees

• Grow a bee-friendly garden. Plant a range of flowers so bees have access to nectar from March to October. Bees love traditional cottage garden flowers and native wildflowers, like primrose, buddleia, and marigolds.
• Create a nesting habitat. Start a compost heap, or let an area of grass grow long, and leave twigs and leaf litter to gather. Bumblebees might make a nest or even hibernate here.
• Plant in pots or window boxes if you don’t have a garden. Try a simple pot of lavender by the door.
• Treat a tired bee to some sugar (never honey!) Mix two teaspoons of white granulated sugar with one teaspoon of water and put it on a plate or drip it on a flower, to revive a tired bee.
• Get to know your bees. Download a bee identification sheet from Friends of the Earth at friendsoftheearth.uk/bee-count and see how many you can spot. This is really helpful if you find a nest and need advice on what to do. Honey bees can be relocated but other types of bees are usually best left alone and will be gone in a few weeks as they have such a short life cycle.

5 brilliant bee facts

1. There are more than 250 species of bee in the UK. Not all bees produce honey.
2. Some amazing solitary bee species include leafcutter bees, who make their home from leaves, thick-stemmed plants and rotten wood, and masonry bees found inside naturally occurring holes in bricks or mortar.
3. The ‘waggle dance’ is like sat nav for bees and is used to teach each other about the location of food up to six kilometres away.
4. Bees have four wings, not two. They actually hook them together to form one big pair when flying.
5. In winter, honey bees huddle together around the queen and brood to keep them warm. They preserve their energy to survive – they don’t even go to the toilet!

Karbon Comment

“We’re keen bee supporters here at Karbon too. We’re no longer using glyphosate-based pesticides which are harmful to bees. We’re also establishing wildflower areas and tree planting to support bees and other pollinators.” 

John Gray, Grounds Maintenance Manager