Beekeeping

Honeybees kept in hives in the UK are considered to be livestock. As such they are monitored by DEFRA. I try to keep my bees in a way that is as harmonious with nature as possible and at all times the health of the bees is uppermost in my mind. Our pollinators, wild and ‘domestic’ are under stress as never before in the form of climate change, loss of habitat, pesticide use and intensive farming. It would be easy to feel insignificant in the face of such a huge challenge but I believe I have a small part to play as a beekeeper. Honey bees will only produce enough honey ( i.e. in excess of what the colony needs) if they have enough forage. The land around my hives needs to have enough food for all of its pollinators, not just honey bees! I will only take honey from my hives if it is not needed by the bees and so the yearly crop can fluctuate.