Latest news with #honeybees
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Take a look inside the Port Glasgow apiary home to half a million bees
A GROUP of busy beekeepers have given homes to half a million bees who help Inverclyde's nature flourish and grow alongside offering a therapeutic experience for some. The Inverclyde Shed has been looking after 50,000 honeybees which have been nestled amongst an industrial estate in Port Glasgow for nearly five years and locals are able to get up close and personal with the buzzing insects. The apiary, located in Devol industrial estate, is home to 10 honeybee colonies. They feed off the long, flowery garden where their hives stay and a large garden with over 200-foot-tall tress just behind the enclosures fence - this benefits both the bees and the gardens. The Port Glasgow apiary has 10 hives which are home to 50,000 bees each (Image: George Munro) Three years ago, the hives were moved from the Shed's market garden to a few streets away after a couple of queen bees died, with group members saving as many colonies as they could. Earlier this month the Tele took a visit to the apiary and got the chance to suit up and take a look inside one of the hives, learning about bee husbandry, how beekeepers identify problems with the creatures and how they help them produce honey. (Image: George Munro) A harvest of honey is only collected three times a year (Image: George Munro) Founder of the organisation Bruce Newlands said the beekeeping group has developed into a project that he says has become a 'unique' hobby for many and, despite the bees at the Port Glasgow site not being they type which are endangered, the group is still helping pollinators within the local ecosystem. Bruce said: 'The reason the Shed does bees is that we found out that it can be remarkably therapeutic and very calming for people. 'Of course, we get honey and produce from the apiary but that's not our reason for looking after these bees. 'We spend a lot more time looking after them than taking honey, we are far more interested in the environmental impact it can have as well as the therapeutic benefits it can have for people.' Bruce says they have had people with bipolar and anxiety struggles get involved because of the bees calming properties. Other News Greenock man pays tribute to 'inspirational' wife after her rare cancer diagnosis New swimmers make a splash at annual IASC championships New show with 100 pieces of amazing art goes on show at Beacon David Maugere has been a beekeeper at the Devol site for a few years now and has developed the apiary onto a 'different scale' by taking the bees into schools across Inverclyde and hosting sessions in libraries to teach people about the creatures and see close up how they work. David, who is originally from France, says he has found a great community in the Shed having joined in 2020 and has been able to bring his love of beekeeping to Inverclyde. He told the Tele: 'Having seen my own kids take an interest in the bees, we have decided to take a different approach to the apiary this year and take it out of the garden and into schools. 'We want to show off how much fun beekeeping can be and teach people. 'It's amazing to see the group grow from only a couple of us to nearly 10 of us.' Bruce Newlands (left) Tele reporter Isla Robertson and David Maugere (right) (Image: George Munro) David now trains up new Shed members to work with the colonies and has also been saving bees from across Inverclyde, recently rehoming a swam of them who were living in Greenock supermarket car park. To enquire about visiting the apiary, contact the Shed at contact@ Those interested should also keep an eye on the Shed's Facebook page where they will post dates for further library information sessions with the bees.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Manitoba wildfire smoke putting honeybee hives under stress
The smoke from Manitoba wildfires is having an impact on honey producers in the province. Danton Unger reports. From farmers' fields to honey bee hives – producers worry thick wildfire smoke is having a hefty impact. Kon Paseschnikoff has been keeping honey bees since he was a boy. The owner of Bee Boyzz Honey and Meadery keeps hundreds of thousands of bees buzzing on his property southwest of Winnipeg. The honey they produce goes into all sorts of products like flavoured honey, craft mead, and sparkling tea. But this year, Paseschnikoff said wildfire smoke has been impacting his hives. 'With the heavy smoke, you could see the small activity here in the bee yards,' he said. 'They weren't as active.' According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), it's been one of the smokiest years on record, prompting several air quality warnings so far this year. 'Winnipeg, for example, we're actually at our third smokiest year on record,' ECCC Meteorologist Crawford Luke told CTV News. He said so far this year, Winnipeg has recorded 172 hours of smoke this year. The only years that saw more smoke have been 2021 (262 hours of smoke) and 1961 (304 hours of smoke). Paseschnikoff said thick smoke makes the bees more docile – keeping to their boxes rather than venturing out. It can also mess with their sense of smell and direction. 'It's a little challenging for them to find the nectar,' he said. That means less honey. 'We are seeing dramatic effects of climate change on our honeybees. The bees are under stress from weather events,' said Paul Gregory with the Manitoba Beekeepers' Association. Gregory said the smoke – paired with other environmental threats like drought and pests – could lead to a big drop in yields for the province's roughly 200 honey producers. 'I would guesstimate between 25 and 30 per cent,' he said. It's not just the apiaries that would feel the hit with the loss of these expert pollinators. 'Crop farmers, farmers that are growing clovers, tree foil, buckwheat, fruit crops – they're all impacted because they don't have the honeybees. They're not going to get the seed yield,' he said. Paseschnikoff said he expects his harvest will take a hit, though he won't know just how bad until the end of the year. But like the bees themselves, Paseschnikoff said beekeepers are resilient. 'Every day is a learning curve. You can come to a yard and the bees look really, really good, or they look really weak, and then they just turn around overnight,' he said. 'Sometimes it's a funny creature.'
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists issue warning over damaging pest spreading across vast area: 'Not as benign as some might think'
European honeybees might be good for agriculture, but they're causing some serious problems for Australia's native bees. A new study points out that these introduced bees are taking over important food sources and making it harder for native species to survive. According to a group of researchers at Curtin University recently looked at how European honeybees are affecting native bee populations in Perth. The study, published in Frontiers in Bee Science, is titled "Introduced honeybees … potentially reduce fitness of cavity-nesting native bees through a male-biased sex ratio, brood mortality, and reduced reproduction." It consisted of placing "bee hotels" around the city. These bee hotels are basically small shelters where bees can lay their eggs, and the goal was to keep track of which species were using them and how well they were doing. What researchers found wasn't great: In places where there were more honeybees, native bees had a tougher time. They weren't producing as many female offspring, which are essential for continuing the species. There were also more dead larvae and smaller, weaker male bees. Dr. Kit Prendergast, who led the study, talked about these results and said that "this shows that honeybees are not as benign as some might think — they can negatively impact local ecosystems and potentially contribute to declines in native bee populations." When native pollinators struggle, their ecosystem suffers. Native bees are specially adapted to pollinate local plants (those that support other wildlife and help keep the environment in balance). If these bees disappear, it could mean fewer flowers, fewer fruits and vegetables, and fewer animals that depend on them. In addition, it could make our food supply less secure. Native bees play a huge role in pollinating crops, and if they're pushed out, this means more pressure on the food system. There's still hope for native bees, but it'll take some effort. One of the best ways to help is by making sure there aren't too many honeybees in areas where native bees live. Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Absolutely It depends on the species I don't know No — leave nature alone Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Adding more native plants to gardens and public spaces can also make a big difference. These are the plants that native bees know how to use, and they're often better suited to the local climate. Creating spaces for bees to nest and avoiding harmful chemicals like pesticides can help, too. This isn't just about protecting bees: It's about protecting the systems we all depend on. By giving native bees the room and resources they need, we're building a cleaner future for everyone. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bees rehomed in hives above Bournemouth entertainment venue
Five thousand honeybees have been rehomed in two hives on the roof of an entertainment and conference new home is on top of the Bournemouth International Centre as part of a project arranged by the Bee Mission Turner, director of venues at operator BH Live, said: "This is just another step towards making Bournemouth International Centre a more sustainable venue and doing our bit."The new hives will eventually home between 20,000 and 40,000 honeybees. Bee Mission installs hives across Dorset and Hampshire, and cooks and delivers hot meals to the homeless in Bournemouth through the proceeds of its honey Foster, from the charity, said: "The team who runs the venue had wanted some hives on the roof for a while. "Through some mutual connections, they discovered the great work of Bee Mission.... we went round to check the area was appropriate for the bees, which it was - and now they've moved in, which is great to see." Bee Mission's resident beekeeper Serge Seliukov said: "Anyone going to Bournemouth International Centre will probably not even notice the bees. "While 20,000 sounds like a lot of bees, in reality, it's not that many and they won't bother anyone. "They'll be heading straight to the flowers on Bournemouth's clifftops and gardens which is why it's a great spot for them with plenty of food. "This variety of bees are bred to be very gentle and polite, so they won't be disturbing anyone with their buzz-iness." Bee Mission was launched by local businessman Chris Bialan."We've always had big ideas, big targets, and a big mission for Dorset and Hampshire, but we are confident in the power of the community to help and support each other and the bees," he Live is a registered charity and social enterprise, and operates the centre with BCP Council. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WA beekeeper working to save millions of bees involved in crash in Whatcom County
WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. - Millions of bees escaped in Whatcom County after a semi-truck overturned on Friday. The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office initially reported 250 million bees had escaped, but yesterday they changed that estimate to 14 million bees. We talked with a beekeeper who was on scene and gave us a better look at what those beekeepers experienced on Friday. Big picture view It's the buzz heard across social media, bees as far as the eye can see. They were in the air and on the ground, surrounding those trying to save them by the millions. For beekeeper Derek Condit, that day quickly changed and became an experience that went bee-yond anything he could imagine. He was able to capture video on Friday after a semi-truck carrying 70,000 pounds of honey bee hives overturned in Whatcom County. The crash sent an estimated 14 million bees swarming on Weidkamp Road near Lynden. What they're saying "The sheriff's department was probably several hundred yards down the road because you couldn't approach it unless you were completely suited up," Condit said. They tried to save the bees by putting the beehives back together – not an easy task, since hundreds of beehives slid off the truck, got mixed up, damaged and some even opened up! Local perspective The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office and the beekeepers are now giving the bees a chance to re-hive and find their queen bee. "Many of the queens did do just that. They swarmed in the nearby trees and local forest where the other bees will meet up with them and start a new colony, hopefully," said the beekeeper. Derek told Fox 13, he learned these bees had just finished pollinating blueberry fields and were headed to South Dakota, adding another sting to a sticky situation. "It's going to be nearly a complete loss for all of these hives because of the devastation," he said. "It's not often somebody gets to be in the presence of millions of bees while they're there, but they also had, believe, not, a calming feel to them, almost like they felt like we were there to help." The Source Information for this story came from original FOX 13 Seattle interviews. Homicide investigation underway after 5-year-old dies in Federal Way, WA Major 5-day SR 18 closure at I-90 in Snoqualmie, WA Alaska man pinned by 700-pound boulder for 3 hours walks away unharmed Why hasn't anyone been charged in Seattle clash arrests? What we know Mandatory driver's education to expand under new Washington law To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
