Bungay Community Bees

Aims:

The Threat to Bees: Honey Bees are responsible for fertilizing many of our food plants and crops. Unfortunately in recent years they have been under threat from a variety of sources. Current theories include chemicals in the environment, disease (including the varroa mite) and stress from modern beekeeping methods as contributory factors. In the most severe cases bee colonies are completely collapsing, but other problems are also rife causing hives to be at greater risk of decreased functionality, ill-health and death.

Bungay Community Bees - a Natural Beekeeping Project: With Honey Bee vulnerability in mind, Bungay Community Bees aims to manage hives in as sustainable a manner as possible. We are not a commercial venture and honey production is viewed as a bonus rather than a prime motive for bee keeping. We aim to use two or three systems over the next few years until we find one that suits us and the bees best.

Inspiration:

Bees!

Outcomes so far:

The project has proved extremely popular and though there has been no more than a soft launch we've already attracted members, had offers of sites for hives and even been given some hives.

Further information:

Bungay Community Bees - a Natural Beekeeping Project: With Honey Bee vulnerability in mind, Bungay Community Bees aims to manage hives in as sustainable a manner as possible. We are not a commercial venture and honey production is viewed as a bonus rather than a prime motive for bee keeping. We aim to use two or three systems over the next few years until we find one that suits us and the bees best. As a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA - see notes) venture we have a proposed plan to expand both hives and beekeepers as follows:

Year 1: In the first year 25 supporters are recruited, all pay £20 each raising £500 capital to invest in two hives (National type) and colonies, insurance for two beekeepers, basic equipment and training for two new beekeepers.
Benefits to members include:

• Visits to the hives with the BCB beekeepers to learn more about apiculture
• The opportunity to have a hive in your garden (if the site is suitable; hives will only be tended by insured BCB beekeepers)
• Every year one or two members of BCB will have the chance to attend a beekeeping course paid for by BCB.
• An invitation to the honey harvest and bee party every Autumn.
• Regular updates and photos via the BCB blog
• A share of the wax and honey. BCB will be as much about caring for bees as about
• bee products: yields can not be guaranteed and, certainly in the first few years as the hives establish, are likely to be very low and possibly non-existent.

Year 2: In the second year 25 supporters are recruited, ideally the same group as in year 1. All pay £15 each raising £375 capital to invest in two more hives (Warre type) and colonies, insurance for four beekeepers, basic equipment and training for two more beekeepers.

Benefits are the same as for year 1 but the honey and wax share could increase.

Year 3: In the third year 30 supporters are recruited, ideally the same supporters as in year 1 and 2 plus an additional 5. All pay £10 each raising £300 capital to invest in two more hives (top bar type) and colonies, insurance for six beekeepers, basic equipment and training for two more beekeepers.

Benefits are the same as for year 1 and 2 but the honey and wax share might increase again.

Year 4: Consolidation. 30 supporters are recruited, again ideally the same supporters as in years 1, 2 and 3, and pay £10 each raising £300. The only expenditure is insurance for 6 beekeepers and and extra equipment that might be required. During this year the merits of the various hive types are assessed.

Year 5: Same as year 4 or, if the group wants to grow it might decide repeat year 1 but with 30 members paying £10 and purchasing the hive type that has performed best.

Over time the honey and wax share should increase to the point where a £10 annual investment delivers an excellent return in honey and other hive products - but it could also be that in some years we produce little or nothing.