In today’s Spring Statement, Philip Hammond promised to deliver an Environmental Bill that will protect British bees. “The UK’s 1,500 species of pollinators deliver an estimated £680 million annual value to our economy – so there is an economic, as well as an environmental, case for protecting the diversity of the natural world,” he said.
The Chancellor’s promises are good news for the UK’s 44,000 amateur beekeepers – or apiculturists – and nowhere will they be more welcome than at Hackney City Farm where this spring, aspiring urban beekeepers can take a series of beginners’ classes.
Ken Hayes, Volunteer and Education Manager at the farm, built his first hive on the rooftop of SOAS during his student days. He says: “The classes offer a bit of everything. It’s a flavour of beekeeping – an introduction to the equipment, and to the bees’ behaviour and biology.
“We focus on working with the bees rather than looking at the system alone – we want to support colonies and bee populations for the future rather than just collecting honey.
“As well as the private classes, we run many free sessions for vulnerable and marginalised adults. It’s a great opportunity to expose people to new situations, and teach them some new skills. It is wonderful to see people overcoming their nerves. There can be up to 60,000 bees in one hive, and that can be really daunting, but people soon find it isn’t as scary as they thought it would be.”
Hackney City Farm breeds lambs and piglets to sell at market. The hives are another way for visiting school groups to learn about how food reaches supermarket shelves.
“Space is a premium here. We work on the rooftop – we couldn’t keep any of our other animals up there! It’s important to be considerate of your neighbours when you’re beekeeping in the city, but fortunately honey bees are really safe. Stinging someone kills the honey bee, so they only do it as a last resort, or if they feel that the colony is being threatened. So if you are stung, it will most likely happen when you are opening the hive. The risks are generally very low.”
Working with a smaller number of hives can make it easier to identify problems hidden in bee colonies. The Varroa mite, a parasite that spread to the UK in the 1990s, affects all hives both commercial and amateur. According to the US Department of Agriculture, 40 per cent of US commercial beekeepers say that Varroa mites have seriously harmed their colonies. This pest species wounds and weakens honey bees, transferring lethal viruses in the process.
“It’s good for all of us to support good farming practice, but it’s also important for consumers to feel empowered. Organic produce can be very expensive, and it is not always accessible. But we can signal the changes that we want to see in the shops by changing our choices.
“We harvest the honey surplus that is left after the summer. We sell about 60 jars of honey each year. Our prices are lower than many other London-based sellers. We see it as an opportunity for local people to try really local produce, and all of our profits go back into funding the farm.”
The flavour and health benefits of honey vary between regions and even hives.
“Last summer was very dry, so the nectar dried up,” Ken says. “As a result, the honey had a different appearance and flavour. Honey is made up of about 80% sugar, but it is the trace elements that are the most interesting part – they make all the difference to the flavour variations and medicinal properties.”
The NHS website now recommends honey and lemon juice as a cold cure above any over-the-counter cough mixtures.
“People come along to these classes because they’re interested in the environmental and health aspects. In general, people are very willing to spend their time and money on beekeeping. It is such a rewarding experience.”
