Decline in wild bee species richness associated with honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) abundance in an urban ecosystem
Worth reading: https://peerj.com/articles/14699/
CONFUSING ENTHUSIASM WITH RESULTS
When you earnestly believe you can compensate for a lack of skill by doubling your efforts, there's no end to what you can't do.
Worth reading: https://peerj.com/articles/14699/
The Ulster Beekeepers' Association will hold the Annual Conference in CAFRE, Greenmount Campus, Antrim on Friday and Saturday, February 17 and 18.
The theme is 'Building Sustainable Beekeeping', and the keynote speaker will be Professor Juliana Rangel, of Texas A and M University.
Tickets can be booked via: https://buytickets.at/ulsterbeekeepersassociation.
Beekeeping in Yemen dates back to the 10th century, producing many varieties of delicious honey.
— Food and Agriculture Organization (@FAO) January 22, 2023
But conflict in the country has affected beekeepers & beekeeping.
🎥Thanks to a @FAO-@WorldBank project, beekeepers like Salim are producing honey again.#BeeEngaged #SaveTheBees pic.twitter.com/WOUo11sysG
The Beekeeper of Aleppo debuts at Nottingham Playhouse (3 to 25 February), before heading to Liverpool Playhouse (1 to 11 March), Salisbury Playhouse (21 to 25 March), New Theatre Cardiff (28 March to 1 April), Theatre Severn Shrewsbury (4 to 8 April), Gaiety Theatre Dublin (11 to 15 April), The Lowry Salford (18 to 22 April), Theatre Royal Glasgow (25 to 29 April), Richmond Theatre (2 to 6 May), Theatre Royal Norwich (9 to 13 May), Cambridge Arts Theatre (16 to 20 May), Belgrade Theatre Coventry (23 to 27 May), Leeds Playouse (31 May to 3 June), Theatre Royal Newcastle Upon Tyne (6 to 10 June), Birmingham Rep (13 to 17 June), Theatre Royal Plymouth (20 to 24 June) and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford (27 June to 1 July).
Details https://www.whatsonstage.com/nottingham-theatre/news/the-beekeeper-of-aleppo-world-premiere-cast_58097.html
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/environment/scottish-parliament-holyroods-bee-population-has-grown-to-more-than-half-a-million-3967376
Holyrood’s bee population has grown to more than half a million bees since 2014 when the parliament became the first legislature in the UK to have beehives. There are now 11 beehives onsite. Honey from the hives is often on sale in the Scottish Parliament gift shop. And the beeswax, a by-product of beekeeping, is used to seal every act passed by the Scottish Parliament and to fill the Great Seal of Scotland.
Entomologists from the University of Manitoba have found that for individual honey bees kept in a controlled laboratory environment, honey bee lifespans are 50% shorter than in the 1970s. When scientists modelled the effect of today’s shorter lifespans, the results corresponded with concerning factors, including increased colony loss and reduced honey production.
PS My life is definitely shorter now than it was in the 1970s.
This gizmo is designed to listen to pollinator activity, for beekeepers to monitor activity with a view to interventions.
Find out more here https://www.agrisound.io/ and look at the kit here https://www.arnia.co/shop
Years ago I was invited to keep bees on the top of a building, and took a tour of the roof. Apart from the aircon units, phone masts, and assorted aerials, it all looked good, with a well-protected central area. The hang-up: six flights of external stairs. Not for me!
From https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/food-and-drink/perthshire-queen-bee-breeder-helps-create-marks-spencer-honey-3905259
From https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2022-09-28/warning-after-asian-hornet-spotted-in-uk, Wednesday 28 September 2022 at 5:35pm
The Bee Keeper
The fast-paced action-thriller is steeped in the mythology of beekeeping and follows a man's personal journey of vengeance which takes on very high stakes.
The film is based on a script by Kurt Wimmer, who is set produce along with Jason and Miramax chief Bill Block. The studio is aiming to start production later this year.
Block previously said: "'The Bee Keeper' explores universal themes with an unconventional story that will have fans sitting on the edge of their seats. We’re excited to bring another iconic and irresistible film to audiences around the globe."
Last year my colonies were chewing through up to 500 g of fondant every week. In total, each colony polished off around 12 kg.
This year, rather than replenish the hives every two weeks, I loaded one single fondant block of 12.5 kg (that's the pack size, no science here!) on the crown boards.
Today I discovered that the principle is good, but the practice is bad. Last year's I used old food tubs, which hold the fondant in place nicely. This year I started with a nicely squared-off block in a plastic bag. But the bag doesn't do the same job as a tub, and the whole thing has subsided into a giant sticky mess on the top of each hive.
Luckily, the bees seem not to mind.
Excerpt:
The Alentejo and Algarve account for around 20% of Portugal’s beehives and produce over 1.1 tons of honey, much of which is exported. However, wildfires, climate change and droughts have taken a toll on production levels, explains Melgarbe expert Paulo Ventura.
“In the Algarve, 6,000 hectares housing around 3,500 beehives will be sterile for at least two years,” Ventura said, adding that between 700 and 800 beehives were lost in the Eastern Algarve’s fires last summer and that others are dying due to the harsh conditions.
I like this story:
A charity founder and Syrian refugee has said beekeeping helps refugees to “break connection with any trauma”.
Ali Alzein started Bees & Refugees to save the native British black bee from extinction as well as foster “a sense of belonging in the UK’s refugee communities” by providing therapeutic workshops and a Build-Your-Own-Beehive project.
https://uk.style.yahoo.com/beekeeping-breaks-connection-trauma-refugees-070047981.html
His Royal Highness Prince Charles pledged to send a jar of his honey to a fellow beekeeper after he saw first hand Jordan’s efforts to support refugees.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/charles-promises-swap-jars-honey-153338381.html
Jonathan Geldart, the Director General of the Institute of Directors, said:
“Bees are one of the most important animals on the planet, but their numbers are plummeting rapidly. I am delighted that we are able to play a small part in protecting bees and the vital role they play in the natural ecosystem.
“Quite apart from the environmental, educational and wellbeing benefits the bees will bring, I am also excited by the prospect of IoD members being able to enjoy honey made by our own little captains of industry.”
https://businessnewswales.com/bee1-sends-20000-welsh-bees-to-londons-pall-mall/
Excerpt
Abbey Church in North Berwick and Dirleton Kirk are supporting Bees Abroad, a UK-based charity that provides opportunities for people in low-income communities around the world to learn practical beekeeping skills to generate income and improve lives.
Members of the two congregations contributed more than £2,000 to support the Rwenzori Rural Talent project, which is expected to last for three to four years.
See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/a-boost-for-bees-as-defra-works-with-beekeepers-to-implement-the-healthy-bees-plan-2030
Kashmir beekeepers head southward for warmth, honey and cash...
Fascinating to compare the life of these beekeepers with those in the US.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/kashmir-beekeepers-head-southward-warmth-034140812.html
Australian artist Angelica Mesiti adapted a 17th-century composition based on the sound of bees in the hive for her exhibition in Edinburgh.
The choral piece was written by Elizabethan polymath Charles Butler, a pioneer in English beekeeping.
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2021/09/27/400-year-old-score-based-on-bees-inspires-part-of-artists-first-major-uk-show/
For what it is worth, I hugely admire Ms Jolie. Story from https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/angelina-jolie-return-cambodia-2022-200423388.html