Learning from the Bees: a Delegate from Portugal

Deborah Richmond

With beautiful honey bee friends gathering at Matt Somerville's log hive workshop post the Learning from the Bees conference. Our post party was at Blenheim palace with the ancient trees that host many wild hives. I learnt so much from the days together as a global community... what stood out:

¥ It takes two weeks for honey bees to recover after a hive is opened. A scientist has measured the sound of bees and the disharmony caused from a beekeeper entering their sanctuary.

¥ The Holland honey bee community has come together: the natural/ wild bee conservationists, the biodynamic community and the commercial beekeepers to work together to influence political decisions. This for me is amazing bridge building to bring about change. All love the bees and hold different perspectives and are listening to each other.

¥ More and more scientists are researching wild bees, looking at genetic diversity and understanding bees for their natural ways rather then as domesticated honey producers in square boxes. This is incredible as we have had insufficient data to influence change.

¥ Hearing many stories that beekeepers' bees are dying without human intervention now. The different beekeeping communities and environmental organisations need to come together on this topic and explore the research available... it’s time to go to the root causes, and not keep addressing the symptoms.

¥ The picture here is an ancient tree growing a new root from within to create a new tree. Never knew this is what they did. Wow!!

Thank you to the Natural Beekeeping Trust for once again bringing us together.