UK honeybee problems alleviate

UK honeybee problems alleviate

» 15th June 2010 «

Beekeepers and garden and greenhouse enthusiasts in the UK have been concerned for a number of years about the country's honeybee population.

Around 30 per cent of colonies have been dying out each winter over the past few years, but figures from the British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA) seem to show some positive numbers for the 2009/10 winter.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) published the statistics, which show that around 80 per cent of colonies have survived.

Furthermore, the number of Brits keeping bees has doubled since 2007, when the problem first came to light.

"It shows that our honeybees are slowly moving out of intensive care but they are still not healthy enough," BBKA president Martin Smith told the RHS.

"Winter losses of between seven and ten per cent are acceptable: the current rate is not."

Despite the positivity in the UK, US growers are concerned after statistics showed that around a third of the honeybee population died out for a fourth consecutive winter - caused mainly by Colony Collapse Disorder.

In other news, the RHS is set to host BBC Gardeners' World Live, which begins tomorrow (June 16th).

Posted by David Webb