More Information
Bees
Here are a few useful websites:
The British Beekeepers Association
http://www.britishbee.org.uk/
and their Adopt a Beehive website
www.adoptabeehive.co.uk
Bees are four-winged, flower-feeding insects which eat only pollen and nectar from
flowers and plants. In the UK, there are 3 types of bee, solitary bees, bumblebees
and honeybees. Honeybees and bumblebees are the most common. They are
social bees and live in colonies. Solitary bees make their own small family nests.
Bees can be confused with many other flying insects, such as wasps and
hoverflies which have similar black/yellow markings.
Honeybees
There is just one species of honeybee in the UK (Apis
Mellifera Mellifera). Honeybees live in a large family
(colony) in a large cavity, typically a hollow tree, or manmade hive. The bees secrete wax and build parallel
combs made up of hexagonal beeswax cells. These cells
are used either to store food or to raise young. It takes
21 days for an egg, laid by the queen, to become a
young bee. Honeybees collect nectar, pollen, water and
propolis. Propolis is a resinous substance obtained from
trees which has antiseptic properties.
Buglife http://www.buglife.org.uk/
Bumblebee Conservation Trust http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/
Wild about gardens http://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/index.aspx
West Cornwall Beekeepers http://www.westcornwallbka.org.uk
Cornwall Beekeepers http://www.cbka.org.uk
This leaflet has been produced by
West Cornwall Beekeepers Association.
For more information about the
association please call 01736 763876
or email secretary@westcornwallbka.org.uk
Bumblebees
Bumblebees live together in social families
or colonies and store food in wax pots.
When winter comes bumblebee colonies
die, leaving young queens in hibernation
ready to start new colonies in the spring.
There are 2 types of bumblebee Bombus
Bumblebees of which there are 9 different
species in the UK and Psithyrus
Bumblebees (cuckoo bees).
Solitary bees
Most bees in the world are solitary bees. In the UK
there are about 270 different species. The bees have a
short lifespan, living as adults for only about 6 to 8
weeks. Solitary bees have no sting because they do
not store honey and their nest is only open for short
intervals of time.
Solitary bees tend to be specific to particular flowers
so, as soon as that flower's season ends, the solitary
bee dies as its food supply is cut off.
Bees and the economy
Globally there are more honey bees than other types of bee and pollinating
insects, so it is the world’s most important pollinator of food crops. It is estimated
that one third of the food that we consume each day relies on pollination by bees.
Bees are beneficial insects because they produce honey and pollinate crops both
flowering and commercial.
In addition to pollination and honey, bees produce beeswax which is used for
candles, in cleaning and beauty products and Royal Jelly.
Why are bees disappearing?
Bees are in danger of disappearing from our environment.
Flower-rich grasslands in England have declined by 97% over 60 years and
farming practices continue to disturb the natural habitats and forage of solitary and
bumblebees at a rate which gives them little chance for re-establishment. The
honeybee is under attack from the varroa mite and it is only the treatment and care
provided by beekeepers that is keeping colonies alive. Most wild honeybee
colonies have died out as a result of this mite.
Changing weather patterns have prevented bees from foraging for food and have
affected the time of year that forage plants appear.
Insecticides, used to kill agricultural pests, may harm bees if these are applied
incorrectly or without care.
2. Become a bee keeper
At the moment we only produce around 15% of the honey that we consume here in
the UK and it is estimated that we would need around 2.5 million hives in the UK to
meet our current demand. The best way to become a beekeeper is to join your
local beekeepers association where you will get plenty of support and advice.
3. Buy local honey and not only support your
local bee keepers but also enjoy a unique and
deliciously flavoured product. It also reduces food
miles. Local honey is available at many Farmer’s
Markets, farm shops and health food stores.
4. Buy bee-friendly
food where possible. Organic farmland creates a healthy
environment for honey bees and improves the quality of
the food crops that they pollinate. Intensive farming is
responsible for much of the decline in insect diversity and
organic farming provides us with an opportunity to
support farmers who support wildlife.
What to do to help the bees
1. Have a bee-friendly garden
5. Join a campaign!
Gardens are an important environment for honey bees to forage in.
Grow plants in sunny, sheltered places as these are more likely to be visited by
bees. Grow low-growing plants, such as annuals and herbaceous plants, in large
clumps are these are more attractive to bees.
Plant native plants such as honeysuckle, wild roses, lavender, foxgloves,
hollyhocks, clematis and hydrangeas. Plant fruit, vegetables and herbs as these
also attract foraging honey bees looking for a food source.
Allow a patch of grass to grow long to provide bees with shelter from the rain.
Dandelions and clover are a wonderful source of food for bees.
Provide water for bees to drink – this can be as simple as a shallow edged dish of
water. Add some pebbles to help the bees climb out.
Find a place in your garden for a bee hotel. Get advice on bee nests from the
insect charity Buglife or Wild About Gardens
There are lots of organisations now campaigning to protect
bees for example the Co-op has launched Plan Bee - a 10point plan to protect bees
http://www.cooperative.coop/ethicsinaction/takeaction/planbee/
The Soil Association is running a Save the Honeybee
campaign, calling for a ban on neonicotinoid pesticides
http://www.soilassociation.org/