New hive is the bees' knees
Declining bee numbers have prompted the call for backyard hives
City-dwellers are being urged to embrace beekeeping, with the help of a new "contemporary" beehive.
Designed with urbanites in mind, the Beehaus from Omlet is a brightly-coloured box roughly the size of a barbecue and could be the key to combating the decline of the apian population
Natural England is encouraging more people to embrace backyard beekeeping, which Omlet's co-founder Johannes Paul said is a "low maintenance" hobby.
"The Beehaus is a great example of how easy it is for anyone to bring the natural world closer to their doorstep," Natural England chief scientist Tom Tew said. "There's no reason why our towns and cities should exist as wildlife deserts."
The number of honeybees in the UK dropped by between ten and 15% in the past two years, which could be disastrous for food crops and the environment as the majority of plants rely on the pollinators to help them reproduce.
Anyone who does decide that beekeeping is the hobby for them is in good company, the ranks of the Beekeepers' Association have swelled by 20% in the last 18 months and there is even a hive in the gardens of the White House.
Michelle Obama had the hive fitted in March this year and, according to US News' Washington Whispers, the first honey was harvested last month and will be used in the White House kitchens.
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Comments
i like the idea but think this could easily turn into a fad that people quickly get bored of and don't prepare themselves for the commitment it takes = lots of dead bees :(
I'd love to give this a go but I'm worried about my kids, don't want them to be stung ;o(