Honey Bees

 A bee-less world wouldn’t just mean the end of honey – Einstein said “if the honeybee became extinct, then so would mankind”.

It has been estimated that up to 80% of our food resources are directly or indirectly dependent upon bees for pollination and continued survival.

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Help Save The Honey Bee  

It has been well documented that the health and numbers of honey bees and many native bee species is under threat globally.

Unless you are anaphylactic to bee stings, try not to swat bees – please do not squash honey bees when they land on you or if you see them near by.  Unlike wasps, bees can only sting once.  When they do sting, they die as a result – therefore they only sting as a last resort mechanism to protect against threats.  If you don’t swat at bees and don’t squash them, they won’t sting you.

Please look after our little friends – they mean you no harm, and they are essential for human survival.

AND THERE’S MORE YOU CAN DO TO HELP….

There are a number of things that you can do at your own home to help to try and maintain bee numbers in your local environment.

  • Plant bee friendly trees and plants – If you aim to attract honeybees, you’ll need bee-friendly flowers that produce ample amounts of pollen and nectar.  Most modern ornamentals, such as hybrid roses, no longer produce enough pollen and nectar to attract bees – if a blossom doesn’t provide enough pollen or nectar, bees will totally ignore it.  For the best bee lures plant old-fashioned or heirloom varieties.   Research has shown that gardens with 10 or more bee-friendly plant types host the most bee visitors. It is important to plant flowers that bloom at different times of the year so that there are always sources of pollen available.  Also, plant some rows of bushes close together to create ideal honey bee habitats.
  • Provide Water – Bees need to drink too.  Place a saucer of water in the garden – place pebbles or twigs and fern in the water so the bee has something to stand and climb on to prevent it from drowning.  Wet sand is another good option for providing a supply of moisture that is safe for bees to drink from.
  • Spray carefully – Use bee friendly sprays. Many common lawn and garden chemicals are lethal to bees, while others may weaken their immune systems, allowing parasites, disease or other stresses to finish them off.  Sprays that contain neonicotinoids have repeatedly been linked to bee losses.  When using bee friendly sprays, spray in the late evening once bees have gone to bed for the night.
Contact your local beekeeper’s association if you see a swarm – they will usually send a local beekeeper out to collect it and will then look after it.
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