Honeybees at the entrance of a log hive
The
Hampshire Natural Bees is an informal group of people whose aim is to support honeybees and wild
bees as well as improve their environment. With honeybees we adopt a husbandry
guided by the nature of the Bee. Using
bee-friendly, bee-appropriate methods, our members keep honeybees to promote
bee health and welfare rather than maximize honey production.
Supporting
bees can be achieved in several ways. These range from simply being more bee-aware in your
garden, planting bee friendly plants and not using pesticides and poisons; through to providing habitat and
housing for bees by leaving areas of ground undisturbed, putting up
‘bee-hotels’ or maintaining a beehive.
The
group started in 2009 and meets regularly, at different venues, to learn about
bees and their nature with thought and discussion about how best to care for
them. Members are mainly from Hampshire,
with others from Wiltshire, Oxford shire, Dorset and Surrey as well as a few
from Berkshire and Hertfordshire. Within
the Group, people have been meeting and getting together in local groups to
help each other. Some BBKA Associations
have natural beekeepers in their membership and tolerate our different
approach. HNBG encourages attendance at lectures and apiary meetings to learn about,
and see, bees in a way that is less likely in our non-intrusive husbandry.
We
aim to learn about the nature of the Bee and what practice promotes good health
.We also consider the implications of other
husbandry on the bee’s health; rather than training in a particular husbandry
and hive type. Members use a range of hives including vertical and horizontal
top bar hives, straw skeps and framed hives as well as tree and trunk hives. Information is available from experienced
beekeepers, conservationists, courses, web-sites and a growing number of books on
a natural approach to bee husbandry.
The
group communicates using a restricted Forum administered by a volunteer. There
are no subs or fees; any event, which incurs costs, is self-funding. If you are considering looking after bees yourself, why not
come along and meet us and see what you think?
J
Haverson January 2023
Hello
ReplyDeleteI’m looking forward to engaging with you all.
Our bees are so precious and carry so much wisdom. I’m all eats and keen to learn.
Best wishes
Lynne