Have you heard the buzz? Urban beekeeping is all the rage as hive numbers double in last seven years... even the Royals are at it

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Have you heard the buzz? Urban beekeeping is all the rage as hive numbers double in last seven years... even the Royals are at it

Veröffentlicht: Samstag, 27. August 2011 10:55 | Geschrieben von Daily Mail | Drucken | E-Mail | Zugriffe: 3434

By Emily Andrews
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Last updated at 9:55 AM on 27th August 2011

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It's the bees’ knees for those wanting a slice of the ‘Good Life’.

And it’s helping boost the honeybee population after their numbers have dramatically fallen.

Urban beekeeping is booming with individuals and companies installing bee hives on top of homes and offices all over the UK.

Have you heard the buzz? Urban beekeeping is all the rage as hive numbers double in last seven years... even the Royals are at it

The Queen's bees: Her Majesty has had beehives in her garden at Buckingham Palace for two years, producing around 160 jars of honey

Buckingham Palace has four hives in its gardens and Clarence House has recently installed two bee hives on their roof

Following in the footsteps of Buckingham Palace, which has four hives in its gardens, Clarence House have recently installed two bee hives on their roof.

And in London alone there are over 2,500 bee hives dotted in various locations throughout the city.

Many are in private homes and gardens, but The Tate Modern Gallery, The Bank of England, Lloyds of London, Fortnum & Mason and St. Pancras International terminal are also buzzing.

The number of members of the British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA) has also doubled over the last seven years, from 9,910 in 2005 to 22,222 this year.

In London there are over 2,5000 bee hives dotted in various locations throughout the city - including St. Pancras International terminal, pictured

Other bee hives are in the Tate Modern Gallery, The Bank of England, pictured and Lloyds of London

The cost involved makes it all the more surprising – typically the basic kit of protective clothing, hive and smoker will cost at least £400 while the actual frame of bees can cost £150.

Angela Woods, a photographers’ agent from Kentish Town in North London, has been keeping bees on a second floor roof terrace of her home for over four years, and currently has two hives.

Always a nature lover, she discovered bee keeping after attending an open day at the London Beekeepers Association (LBKA) and has been engrossed ever since.

Fortnum and Mason on Piccadilly in London also have bee hives - most are in private houses however

Miss Woods said: ‘I fell in love with it after being invited to inspect a hive at the open day, and I’ve never looked back.

‘It’s a real craft and a fascinating hobby - you need to know exactly what you are doing and it’s something that you are continually learning about. It’s a great leveller and an amazing stress reliever.

‘You need to treat the bees with respect, so you have to be cool, calm and collected - it helps you slow down, clear your head and think about things.

FACT FILE

First-year outlay for a hive is around £740, which includes the kit, hive and training course.

Expect around 50 jars of honey per hive each year.

A colony needs a fertile queen bee, several thousand drone males and sterile female worker bees.

The Varroa mite, a tiny parasite that feeds off honeybees and weakens them, is their main predator.

Honey bees also perform particular dances to communicate information such as best pollen locations or new water sources.

The ancient Greeks associated lips anointed with honey with the gift of eloquence and even of prescience.

A community of honey bees has often been employed throughout history by political theorists such as Plato and Marx as a model of human society.

‘Since joining the LBKA, I’ve met all sorts of people like myself who keep bees in London and it’s an interesting mix of people, from young city types to accountants and teachers to scientists and cleaners – anyone can do it

‘Many keepers also like the fact that you get amazing honey from your bees – I had 95 jars last year, and while I don’t keep bees for this reason as I don’t have a sweet tooth, I give most of it to friends, clients and my neighbours

‘My neighbours are great and don’t have a problem with my hives – as long as you manage them responsibly, you shouldn’t have any problems with bees swarming or causing any trouble.’

Tim Lovett, Director of Public Affairs at the BBKA, said, ‘The public are becoming increasingly aware of the plight of the honeybee, with many wanting to get involved in beekeeping.

‘While it’s great that we help the bees in any way we can, it’s also important that it’s also managed responsibly and any budding bee keepers learn exactly what’s involved in this fascinating pastime and receive full training.

‘For most of us, while setting up a hive is obviously a big commitment, there are other ways to help make a difference to the bee population such as planting bee friendly plants in window boxes and gardens.