HAMPSHIRE'S BEEKEEPERS CELEBRATE RECORD PUBLIC SUPPORT (Eastleigh Liberal Democrats)

Eastleigh Liberal Democrats <enquiries@eastleighlibdems.org.uk>

HAMPSHIRE'S BEEKEEPERS CELEBRATE RECORD PUBLIC SUPPORT

November 16, 2009 10:48 AM

Chris at the Hampshire Beekeepers annual convention Hampshire's beekeepers are bouncing back from the problems of bee colony collapse by registering the biggest ever increase in people wanting to keep bees.

The well-publicised decline in the bee population and in honey production has evoked a dramatic response across the county with 250 new members joining the 900-strong Hampshire Beekeepers' Association in just one year. Members usually either keep or plan to keep bee hives.

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne, who visited the HBA annual convention and honey show at Barton Peveril College to award prizes, said that the public response had been fantastic as soon as people realised that our flowers and crops were at peril.

Mr Huhne is pictured here with Examinations officer David Nield and some of the prize entrants at the county convention.

"Bees are an essential part of the ecological system that enable us to survive. Without their efforts in pollinating plants, our agricultural and horticultural economy would collapse" said Mr Huhne. "That is why it is so crucial to research the causes of the problems facing bees.

"It is marvellous news that Hampshire's beekeepers are in the throes of a great revival as people realise what is at stake and want to help. The honey show was very impressive not just with its beautiful different types of Hampshire honey from flaxen blond to molasses dark, but also the many other products from bees such as furniture polish, candles, and delicious varieties of alcoholic mead."

At the annual meeting, HBA chairman Brian Herbert paid tribute to the work that Chris Huhne did to bring the problem of dying bees to the Government's attention and ensure that research funding was committed.

Mr Herbert said: "Chris Huhne has been a staunch ally of the county's beekeepers in helping change the Government's mind on bee research".

About 200 HBA members attended the convention and heard a lecture from Dr Dave Chandler of Warwick University on the latest research using fungi to tackle the varroa mite which is the prime suspect in colony collapse.

More information about the HBA and keeping bees is available on the HBA website here: http://www.beetalk.org.uk/