hings youcandotohelp bees
DaleGibsonofBermondseyStreetBees
looks after 84 hivesacrossLondonand
beyond. He promotessustainablebeekeepingand
supplies chefs with award-winninghoney.WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUTYOURJOB?Youcanhave
knowledge about bees,likeknowingchessmoves,
but, like chess, the combinationofmovesisinfinite.
As a beekeeper, you havetotuneyoursensitivityto
the bees’ vibrations andbeawareofthethingsthey’re
communicating betweenthemselves.
IS URBAN BEEKEEPINGTRICKY?Makingsurethere’s
enough food for bees toeatisreallyimportantin
London because we havethelargest,mostdense
population of honeybeesinEurope.Everybodythinks
flowers are what beesneed,buttreesandshrubsare
their main source of nutrition,soweplantthose.
One of the great dangersisthatotherpollinators
are put under pressurebythepresenceandthe
efficiency of honeybees– it’simportantthattheydon’t
scoop up all the resources.Fourhivesneedabout
1,000kg nectar and about200kgpollen.Whereisthat
going to come from? Ifyouputbeeswhereresources
are scarce, you’re actuallyhurtingtheenvironment.
IS THE WORLD WAKINGUPTOHONEY?Weallknow
the difference betweeninstantcoffee– a freeze-dried,
industrialised product– andthesingleestatestuff.
I think honey is goingtobeoneofthenextfoodstobe
differentiated in this way.Likeoliveoilorwine,it
varies from year to year– it’sanexpressionofthe
terroir or natural environmentwhereit wasmade.
Visit bermondseystreetbees.co.ukMEETTHEBEEKEEPER
Buy organic produce – if you can afford to
Organic farms host up to 50 per cent more wildlife,
and producers of Soil Association-certified organic
food must be committed to biodiversity.
Be a lazy gardener (it’s good for bees!) Go easy
on weeds, give mowing a break and don’t use
insecticides. Plant to provide foraging
opportunities for pollinators throughout the year.
See Planting For Honeybees by Sarah Wyndham
Lewis (Quadrille £12) for a full guide.
Become an eco warrior Write to your local
council and encourage them to consider
pollinators in their landscaping decisions.
Environmental groups are asking the government,
as it draws up new farming policies, tocommitto
reducing pesticide use; sign the petitionat
friendsoftheearth.uk/latest/actions.
Build a bee hotel Wild bees, which aremainly
solitary, look for hollows or holes in theground
to lay their eggs. You can create a nestingsite
using reeds or bamboo – visit wildlifetrusts.org/
actions/how-make-bee-hotel for a full guide.And
don’t offer buzzing guests sugar water– it’snot
good for them unless they’re seriouslyailing.Honeywasmankind’s
originalluxuryfooddeliciousmagazine.co.uk 67
special report.