How you can help the bees

BEEKEEPING is a fascinating and rewarding hobby and you get to eat your own honey too! Twice a year PRBKA runs Beginner’s Beekeeping courses and helps people to find a colony of bees and the equipment they need.

If you see a SWARM OF HONEYBEES contact us or your local authority. Also see our Swarm section.                                                                        Swarming is a natural process so colonies of honeybees can increase their numbers. Swarms usually present very little danger but they can turn aggressive if disturbed or sprayed with water. Leave them alone and wait for an experienced beekeeper to arrive to collect the swarm and take it away.

Grow BEE-FRIENDLY PLANTS in your garden.
In buiilt up areas, honeybees rely upon garden flowers to ensure they have a varied diet and to provide their food – nectar and pollen. They like lots of single flowered plants e.g. asters, sunflowers, mint, marigolds, melon, cucumber, willow & lime trees. Plan your planting for all year round blooming.

Check this link for bee-friendly plants: http://wapedia.mobi/en/Northern_Nectar_Sources_for_Honeybees

Bee calm!
When kept properly, bees can be good neighbours and only sting when provoked. If a bee hovers inquiringly in front of you do not flap your hands. Stay calm and move slowly away. The little bee will soon lose interest when she realises you can’t provide food that she likes. Just remember though that bees do not like the smell of leather which reminds them of animals like the horse. They also regard dark clothing as a threat – it could be a bear! They are not so keen on alcohol smells either and are sometimes confused by scented soaps, perfumes and shampoos. Don’t wear these things near a hive!

If you have a lot of space in your garden, HOST A BEEHIVE.
Many beekeepers, especially in urban areas, find it difficult to find a safe place for their colony of bees. The hive would be looked after by an experienced beekeeper so you wouldn’t have to do any beekeeping.  However access anytime would be needed. Just think what a difference it would make to your garden. Your vegetable plot will be overflowing, your fruit trees will have delicious perfect fruit and there will be a delightful sound of buzzing!  Let us know by email if you want to host a hive.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY to ask if they could use bee friendly plants in public spaces.
Local authorities manage many gardens and open spaces. They now recognise the around areas uncut which will turn into mini meadows.

DON’T LEAVE JARS  of foreign honey outside your back door.
Honey imported from overseas contains bacteria and spores that are very harmful to honeybees.Your bees will find it and feed on the remaining honey. This could infect the bee who may pass the infection on to the rest of her colony resulting in death of the colony. Always wash out honey jars and dispose of them carefully.

Invite a BEEKEEPER to come and talk to your local group and give an illustrated talk about honeybees, products of the hive and pollination. Honeybees are a part of our folklore and are one of only two insect species that are managed to provide us with essential services.