Hundreds Of Bee Colonies In The U.K. Are Thriving, Thanks To The Abrupt Pause Of People’s Busy Lifestyle, Which Has Allowed Nature To Heal

Sustainability Times

With the world and humanity facing a massive disruption in everyday life and economic normality screeching to a halt, the world has given mother nature a forced break that would have never happened without the pandemic occurring. With practically all countries on a lockdown, thee has been less pollution, traffic and a significant improvement in the environment all over the world. Metro reports that bees have been thriving for this very reason in a way that hasn’t been seen in years.

According to Denrosa Apiaries, the largest bee farm located in the U.K., the “new normal” that people are starting to get used to which entails shopping locally, traveling way less only within the region you live in and less traffic and pollution from cars is giving all bee colonies a healing effect.


Helen McGregor, 43-year-old beekeeper is led to believe that because of these great improvements to the environment, her community has also been aware that they need to preserve nature.

“Less traffic, less pollution is bound to make a difference to the environment which of course has a positive knock-on effect for bees. I think people are more aware of what’s going on around them and in the countryside just now because of lockdown. Hopefully we see these changes lasting,” says McGregor.

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With 4,000 hives that hold 50,000 bees each, this beekeeping company has been in business since the 1940’s, beginning in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The massive commercial beekeeping operation was founded by McGregor’s grandfather Kenneth, who at one point even produced honey for the British royal family.

With the environmental conditions fairly improving, McGregor has seen a cultural shift among the locals in her area.

“They are more aware of nature, maybe seeing hives when they are out and about and thinking more about the food they are eating and where it comes from. It’s taking people back to their roots, making them look at what’s necessary in life and what’s not, it’s back to a basic outlook on life,” she explained.

The overall health of the bees seen in Denrosa Apiaries does not just impact this beekeeping operation, but it generally shows a strong impact on the agrarian economy in the rural Scottish region.

Since bees are the most important pollinators in agriculture, these species and their natural process of pollination is highly crucial to plant reproduction on all aspects.

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McGregor explained that, “we have hundreds of sites from down in England, all the way up to Aberdeenshire, with billions of bees. A lot of farmers are looking for bees to help with crop pollination. We have mini hives which we use to build up bee levels and we breed our own queen bees.”

At present, Denrosa Apiaries has hundreds of sites all across the U.K. and employee five teams to go and check six sites daily.

“It’s very early in our season to say what production is going to be like but the bees are busy bringing back nectar and pollen. We are at the mercy of the weather and could do with some rain as the ground is very dry,” McGregor added.

Based on the reports of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, pollinators create from $235 and $577 billion of global crops worldwide because of their pivotal role in the production of food.


In the U.S. alone, bees are estimated to be responsible for pollinating at least $20 billion worth of the domestic crop production. Unfortunately, existing climate conditions, diseases and parasites and the food industry’s reliance on using pesticides and other chemicals have gravely threatened bee colonies, their livelihood and their health.

Without bees and their natural pollination of food crops, we would be without blueberries, almonds, watermelon, tomatoes, chili peppers and a number of other food that are eaten daily!

That’s why this news form the U.K. is a definite much-needed bit of positive news that we should “bee” happy about!

 

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