Bees

Vectis Road Allotments

East Cowes Isle of Wight

VERA Honey Bees Conservation Project

Following reports of the concerns to the serious drop in the bee population on the island, East Cowes allotments, with the help of the Isle of Wight beekeepers association, set up an apiary site within the allotments.

Interested members of the allotments, embarked on a training course with one of the senior beekeeping associations committee before the start of this project, they also regularly attend the beekeepers association’s monthly events.

This project officially started with Vera’s bee team collecting a small cast in may 2009, and then in July 2009, Vera was gifted a nucleus in memory of someone very special.

Both colonies expanded well throughout this summer and despite a harsh winter, came through fitting fit. So fit, that from our gifted nucleus, we were able to expand and create a third hive.

With three hives at the start of 2010, all seamed to be going very well.

Then our bees set us some challenges, but with help from members of the Isle of Wight beekeepers association, we were soon able to work though these, although unfortunately we are now back to, two hives.

The third hive, which was a very strong colony, is now situated elsewhere on the island, and is still very productive.

With our honeybee project we aim to promote the conservation and expansion of the honeybee population on the Isle of Wight. It is our wish to generate support for the declining honey bee.

These aims and wishes have already started to take shape, and along with Vera allotments as an entirety, we are proud to mention the receipt of a community action, certificate of merit Award, and a second place, Wight in bloom, silver wildlife award, presented by the IW biodiversity partnership group.

This award was a superb surprise, and consisted of an inscribed oak plaque, silver certificate, bird nesting box and a hazel seedling, this seedling had been saved from the Newport pan redevelopment area, which will be planted in the apiary area to provide shade for the bees.

The two hives we have now contain very healthy productive colonies. They managed to produce a little honey for us, and ample for seeing them selves through this winter. Pretty good for a first season.

What honeybee products are used for Apitherapy?

Bee Pollen is the male reproductive material of plants used by bees to feed their larvae. Pollen is the honeybee's exclusive source of protein, containing all the essential amino acids that people require. People use bee pollen as a multi-vitamin and/or to build up their resistance to air-borne allergens.

Propolis is tree resin mixed with bee-produced enzymes, used to protect the bee hive from bacteria, fungus, and viruses. People use propolis as a remedy for colds & influenza, and to build up the immune system. Propolis is also used topically for treating various skin conditions.

Royal Jelly is an enzyme enriched food, produced by young worker bees and fed to queen bees for their entire life. People use royal jelly as a multi-vitamin, as an immune system booster to promote longevity, and for mental clarity.

Honey is plant nectar, converted to simple sugars, dehydrated, and used for energy and winter food. People use honey as a natural sweetner, as a sore throat remedy, and for healing wounds.
Bee Venom is produced by worker female bees to defend themselves and their colony. People use bee venom to treat over 40 illnesses, including warts, arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

Beeswax is produced by worker female bees for building the honeycomb structure that is used for brood rearing and storing of honey & pollen. People use beeswax for a number of items including candles, cosmetics, and furniture polishes.

Bee Reports

July 2011

Watch the "Golden Girls" honey bee swarm

Did you know?

The honey bee has been around for 30 million years.

It is the only insect that produces food eaten by man.

Honey bees are environmentally friendly and are vital as pollinators.

They have 6 legs, 2 eyes, and 2 wings, a nectar pouch, and a stomach.

The honeybee's wings stroke 11,400 times per minute, thus making their distinctive buzz.

A honey bee can fly for up to six miles, and as fast as 15 miles per hour. It would have to fly around 90,000 miles - three times around the globe - to make one pound of honey.

The average honey bee will actually make only one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.

It takes about 556 workers to gather 1 pound of honey from about 2 million flowers.

It takes one ounce of honey to fuel a bee's flight around the world.

A honey bee visits 50 to 100 flowers during a collection trip.

A colony of bees consists of 20,000-60,000 honeybees and one queen. Worker honey bees are female, live 6 to 8 weeks and do all the work..

The queen bee lives for about 2-3 years and is the only bee that lays eggs. She is the busiest in the summer months,and lays up to 2500 eggs per day.

The male honey bees are called drones, and they do no work at all, have no stinger, all they do is mating.

Each honey bee colony has a unique odour for members' identification.

During winter, honey bees feed on the honey they collected during the warmer months. They form a tight cluster in their hive to keep the queen and themselves warm.