Johnsons staff member gains a close insight to onsite apiary

Johnsons staff member gains a close insight to onsite apiary

Johnsons staff member gains a close insight to onsite apiary.

Staff member Ellie Richardson gained a close insight into activity within the apiary and discovered that site now houses more than 400,000 bees.

The Johnsons site is perfect for bees as it provides foraging within the surrounding countryside and utilises the many varied plant stocks grown in the nursery.

Johnsons predicts that their seven on-site beehives could house more than 600,000 bees by July.

Johnsons of Whixley’s Ellie Richardson said: “Bees are hugely important to us as they pollinate a third of the food we eat.

“But it is only once you start learning about bees that you realise how amazing they are. I am definitely considering taking up a course next year to become a beekeeper myself!”

The British bee population has declined at an alarming rate in recent years, by a third since 2007.

Contributions to the decline include recent wet summers, which have prevented bees from searching out pollen, and environmental changes, such as the increased use of pesticides in farming, alongside the depletion of natural habitats.

Bees are a vital part in the world’s food production, as studies have revealed that around a third of the world’s food is pollination dependent.

Posted 26th Jun 4:31pm