World of Bees
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World of Bees is a new site where you'll find news and information as well as products and services.
News
A Different Kind of Beekeeping
Cultivation of a large and diverse group of bees, 'stingless' bees, is being studied.
Mayans have raised this alternative type of bee, but it's growing in Brazil too. The honey is runnier, tastes different to honeybee honey and has medicinal uses. It's produced in smaller quantities and so is more expensive.
Insecticides taking toll on honeybees
In this article in the Columbia Daily Tribune, Jan Wiese-Fales writes about a widely-used systemic insecticide which may be responsible for the mysterious colony collapse disorder.
The chemicals mentioned are present in products available to gardeners. Banned in some countries, but legally available in many others, so please check any products that you may be using.
Beeswax artist works his way out of homelessness
LeRone Wilson heats and layers hot wax into award-winning art which sells for over $15,000.
Four years ago he spent ten months in a homeless shelter, but continued his work and eventually sold work, allowing him to move into his own home.
Beeswax candle dipping
candle dipping is a fun craft activity that kids and adults alike can enjoy. The resulting candles give a lovely glow and a lovely smell to a room.
Here Ruth takes us step-by-step through the process and gives us tips and suggestions too.
Help Save Bees
Our native bees are in danger. 'Help Save Bees' have published a lovely website containing lots of information including ID charts and top tips.
Organic alternative weedkillers good for bees
A study by scientists from the UK and New Zealand found that encouraging gardeners to plant flowers in order to help restore the bee population could be counterproductive due to the high amounts of chemical weed killer gardeners use. Instead scientists have suggested that the green-fingered use organic weed killer as a ecologically friendly alternative. Recipes for organic weed killer can be found at ehow and weedkiller.org:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4863528_organic-alternatives-roundup-weed-killer.html
http://www.weed-killer.org/organic-weedkiller-recipes/
50% increase in bee colonies in the last six months
The British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA) has reported today that the number of bee colonies has increased by 50% in the last six months and that 3.5 million pounds of honey has been harvested this summer for the nation's tea tables by amateur beekeepers.
Bees quicker than computers
The 'travelling salesman' problem - working out the shortest distance between a number of points - still proves a challenge for mathematicians. The only way for a computer to work it out is to calculate all possible routes and see which is shortest. Yet bees with their tiny one-million-neuron brains may have the answer. It's been shown this week that they can solve this conundrum and find the shortest route between the flowers that they discover.
Making beeswax wood polish
In this blog post Woodmouse gives us recipe and simple instructions for making beeswax polish for wood.
Bee Part of It!
BBC Local Radio and the National Trust launch a national campaign today to investigate and highlight the decline of the honeybee population in Britain and to encourage people do what they can to help the honeybee re-establish itself.
Each BBC Local Radio station is adopting its own honeybee hive, based at a National Trust property, allowing listeners to follow a colony over their busiest period of the year.
There are plenty of ways for people to lend their support to help honeybees.
Poster - 'Make a Bumblebee Home' How To Poster (Download Pdf).
You can also follow BBC Presenter and avid beekeper Martha Kearney on Twitter: twitter.com/Marthakearney
Artist begins bee-related residency at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Artist Rebecca Chesney has begun a year long residency at YSP, researching the bees and plants of the Bretton Estate to provide inspiration for new work, which may include drawings, photographs, installations and films. The residency will also draw attention to the plight of bees.
The YSP Centre display includes further information, ways to become involved in the project and a virtual hive.
For information and links about related events, webcam, a bee project blog, please follow the link below:
