1. Stop using insecticides - especially for 'cosmetic' gardening.
There are better ways of dealing with pests - especially biological controls. Modern pesticides are extremely powerful and many are long-lasting and very toxic to bees and other insects. Removing all unnecessary pesticides from the environment is probably the single most important thing we can do to help save the bees.
2. Avoid seeds coated with systemic insecticides.
Beware - many farm seeds are now coated with Clothianidin and related systemic insecticides, which cause the entire plant to become toxic to bees and all other insects that may feed on it. The same coatings may soon appear on garden seeds. Check your seed packets carefully - and if in doubt, ask the manufacturer for full information.
3. Read the labels on garden compost - beware hidden killers!
Some garden and potting composts are on sale that contain Imidacloprid - a deadly insecticide manufactured by Bayer. It is often disguised as 'vine weevil protection' or similar, but it is highly toxic to all insects and all soil life, including beneficial earthworms. The insecticide is taken up by plants, and if you use this compost in hanging baskets, bees seeking water from the moist compost may be killed.
4. Create natural habitat.
If you have space in your garden, let some of it go wild to create a safe haven for bees and other insects and small mammals. Gardens that are too tidy are not so wildlife-friendly.
5. Plant bee-friendly flowers.
You can buy wildflower seeds from many seed merchants, and they can be sown in any spare patch of ground - even on waste ground that is not being cultivated. Some 'guerilla gardeners' even plant them in public parks and waste ground.
6. Provide a site for beehives.
If you have some space to spare, you could offer a corner of your garden to a local bee keeper as a place to keep a hive or two. They will need to have regular access, so bear this in mind when considering a site.
7. Make a wild bee house.
Providing a simple box as a place for feral bees to set up home is one step short of taking up beekeeping, but may appeal to those who want to have bees around but don't want to get involved with looking after them.
8. Support your local bee keepers.
Many people believe that local honey can help to reduce the effects of hayfever and similar allergies, which is one good reason to buy honey from a local beekeeper rather than from supermarkets, most of which source honey from thousands of miles away. If you can, find a beekeeper who does not use any chemicals in their hives and ask for pure comb honey for a real treat.
9. Learn about bees - and tell others.
Bees are fascinating creatures that relatively few people take the trouble to understand. Read a good book about bees and beekeeping, and who knows - you might decide to -
10. Become a bee keeper.
It is easier than you might imagine to become a beekeeper - and you don't need any of the expensive equipment in the glossy catalogues! Everything you need to keep bees successfully can be made by anyone with a few simple tools: if you can put up a shelf, you can probably build a beehive!
Help your local beekeepers
Do you have a space on a piece of land/garden and want to contribute to the environment and help your local beekeeping association? We have a lot of new members and we are always glad to welcome more, as a result some of our members may struggle to find some one kind enough to offer them an area suitable to keep bees on.
What happens if I offer a piece of land? We will advertise your offer to association members only via our newsletter and by email. If you provide your contact details, we can then leave members to get in contact with you.
How often does a beekeeper need to visit? This varies depending on the month, during the winter a visit would typically be 5-10 mins just to check the hive is secure. During the spring and summer approx 30 mins per hive per week.
What do I need to provide? Most beekeepers are looking for an area of land which has close access by car and is secluded from the houses and public walk ways. The surrounding flora is not of concern as bees fly up to three miles and will visit hundreds of local plants and flowers. If you are in doubt about the site, let us know and we can take a look. Even if the site needs a little weeding to get access, we can deal with that.
What do I get out it? Well, you help the environment as bees are valuable pollinators for local plants. You may also wish to negotiate a rent amount but a typical agreement would be one to two jars of honey per hive per year. Plus a chance to learn more and even take a look inside a hive as most beekeepers would be very happy to explain what is happening.
What if the bees cause a problem? Within our association are many experienced Beekeepers and most problems can be resolved quickly, but if you are unhappy at any time we will remove the hives.
What about insurance? Membership of FDBKA includes a subscription to the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) and this includes insurance. All of our members have this insurance and so all parties would be covered.
So if you have a large, medium or small area you think may be suitable please feel free to let us know and we will be very glad to pass on your offer.
