oneybees in cities and suburban areas are producing more honey than those in rural areas, figures show, amid fears that the species is in grave decline.
Urban rooftop and suburban garden bees produced 27.5 lbs of honey per hive this year on average, according to a survey by the British Beekeepers Association. This compares to rural gardens, which produced an average of 22.5 lbs of honey per hive, around a fifth less.
Previous research has shown that honeybees in towns and cities enjoy a more diverse diet and find a richer diversity of pollen. This is because they visit a much wider range of flowers than bees foraging in the countryside.
The survey revealed that beekeepers in England overall produced an average 23.8 lbs of honey per hive this year, down by 2.3 lbs on last year. While weather can cause fluctuations in honey yield, the organisation said the species is in steady overall decline.
Long-time beekeepers say a crop of up to 100lbs, more than four times today’s average, was typical in the 1950s. Britain differs from the rest of Europe in that beekeeping is mostly carried out by amateur beekeepers rather than bee farmers, the BBKA said.
John Hobrough, who has recently been awarded his BBKA certificate for 60 years of beekeeping and is the BBKA’s “adopt a beehive” campaign representative in the North East, said: “A honey crop of 50-100 lbs was typical when I started beekeeping in the 1950s.
“In those days farmers under-planted crops with clover to nourish the land, nowadays there just isn’t time or space for this style of farming. “I think it is having a huge impact on the honey crop, by reducing the forage available not just to honeybees, but all our insects.”
Margaret Murdin, BBKA chairwoman, said: “Everyone can play a part in helping honeybees and all the other insects they love such as butterflies and bumblebees by planting the right sort of flowers and shrubs.
“Check the label to see that anything you plant will be rich in nectar and pollen as not all plants are equal in this respect. A crocus is so much better for beesthan a daffodil, for example.”
