(could it) bee magic

Beekeeping for beginners

Four months ago the FJF team went to visit the excellent offshoots permaculture project at Townley hall in Burnley. I was really impressed with what I saw there, from the model back yard showing how a small space can be used effectively for many different plants to the show beds showing how different companion plants can protect your crops from pests and encourage useful insects.

So two months ago when I was given the chance to go and do a beginners bee-keeping course at offshoots I couldn’t wait to go and get involved.

The course took place over six weeks and covered a range of issues including setting up your hive as a beginner beekeeper, bee behaviour and activity, diseases in the hive, selling honey and wax and an overview of an average beekeeping year.

There was so much to learn and after every session my head was literally buzzing with all the information I had been given! And as if that wasn’t enough we also did practical work in offshoots three beehives. These sessions were fantastic as it gave us a chance to (carefully) open up the hive and see examples of much of the theory in action from larvae and honey cells to disease and mite infestation.

Another important aspect that we covered was the effect of bees on the ecosystem with bees being one of the main pollinators of crops and wildflowers. We looked at how bees change the type of pollen they collect depending on their nutritional needs and how these different pollens can affect the honey they produce.

One point that really stuck with me was that bees are wild animals, and no matter how much literature you have read and however much experience you have, they will always find a way to do something unexpected to keep you on your toes.

With the people of Todmorden rapidly increasing the amount of crops they are producing in and around town it is important to understand that the honey bee plays a very important role in crop fertilisation as well as in producing local honey and with the bee population in this country in decline local bee keepers are an important resource to have.

However with a new beehive at the Unitarian church and one at the allotments at meadow bottom as well as the new ones planned for the food hub at Todmorden high school this could Bee (sorry) a golden age for honey bees in Todmorden.

Bee seeing you (sorry again)
Ben