It's a well known fact that there's been a substantial decline in the numbers of honey bees in recent years.
Here in the UK, we've already lost three of our native species and now there's only twenty four species left. Apparently we've lost a third of our British bee population in the last ten years, and I find that frightening.
The varroa mite caused the deaths of entire bee colonies and climate change hasn't helped. But the disappearance of many of our hedgerows and meadows since the 1930s has meant that there's less food for the bees.
One woman who's passionate about bees is wildlife artist and businesswoman Sharon Jervis who lives here just inside the south Leicestershire border. Her MA was all about bees and since then, they've led her on a mission.
She's been looking after bees at her home for a long time, but two years ago, she decided to transform a couple of her six acres of land at home into meadows to encourage more bees.
"I'd been meaning to develop a meadow for ages, but when my mother died, I realised, you have to get things done before it's too late. Her death was the impetus for what you see now"
It cost about £500 in seeds, but Sharon says it has been worth every penny in attracting huge numbers of bees since and is now making plans to convert another two acres to meadowland.
Mind you she's already made a huge commitment to encouraging wildlife, with the creation of a small lake a number of years ago.
A pair of very friendly tame swans live there and now there are families of breeding ducks.
But back to the bees.....as well as painting bees, Sharon runs a company called Beefayre, selling honey, body butters, diffusers, candles and cards. Three per cent of the profits are donated to bee conservation.
To hear more about my visit to Sharon's gorgeous garden and meadow, click here....
There are 24 species of bumble bee, around 225 species of solitary bee and 1 species of honey bee in the U.K.
ReplyDeleteI realise that and it is a pity tnis blog couldn't have got its facts right in what could have been a positive article. My view is that therrevis already enough mis-infirmation and mis-understanding around abot bees with out this adding to it. I am sure that the subjext of the blog is well aware given the positive aspect of what she has do with her meadows etc.
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