Like most things, delivering your organic boxes makes us very happy. Nearly as happy as Ben is here. Ben is our Head of Logistics, but he’s not driving a van (as you can see), he’s stocking up the bar in advance of the bee bash we had the other night. 
As you know, the British honey bee population is in rapid decline and our little furry winged friends need a helping hand.
We wanted to learn how to help – so, in true Abel & Cole style, we threw a party – The Big Buzz…
Busy Bees
When it started raining on Wednesday we tried not to get too Eyore-ish about it. The Big Buzz was that evening, and we really wanted sunshine. But the spirit of Winnie the Pooh was with us and by the time we opened the doors to over 300 bee fans the sun shone down on Battersea Power Station.
After a couple of glasses of wine and some terribly delicious canapés (the beetroot honey hummus went down a storm!), everyone sat down to honey tasting and talks.
Steve Benbow of the London Honey Company talked us through his journey from professional photographer to urban bee keeper, and even enlightened us on the matter of bee poo. Thanks Steve.
Dr Anita Malhotra, a bee geneticist, told us how the West Wales Bee Breeding Programme Wales is mitigating the dwindling bee population by breeding strong bees who are more resilient to disease and rainy summers.
Barnaby Shaw of the British Beekeepers’ Association told us about their brilliant Adopt a Hive scheme – the best way to keep bees, without actually having to keep bees!
As the sun set behind the mighty chimneys of the power station as the Q&A ended – the Bee Bop Band jazzed, the Bee Movies played, and the organic wine and bee banter flowed.
We had a blast. Thanks so much for coming!
It was great to meet so many customers in person (the internet is a great invention, but we just don’t get to see as much of you as we’d like), it was lovely to see you.
Want to help bees too?
Dr Anita Malhotra says: “Like all of us, bees like sunny weather and aren’t keen on the cool, wet and windy summers that we’ve experienced recently, which see them hardly making enough honey for their own needs.”
Whist none of us have the power to make the sun shine – you can plant lots of wild flowers in your garden, and adopt a beehive from the British Beekeeping Association, see www.adoptahive.co.uk for more info.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
11 Jun 2010 at 13:11
A great event all round it has to be said, and some really great information shared. I hope it persuades more people into the beekeeping world just like I was last year.
For an alternative view to the evening see my blog or if you want to follow a beekeeper learning the trade!
James
http://www.surreybeekeeper.co.uk
12 Jun 2010 at 10:39
Sorry a question, not comment.
Where can you get wild flower seeds? which ones are best for bees?
14 Jun 2010 at 18:10
Hello Solveig,
Wiggly Wigglers is perfect for getting your UK wild flower seeds…they even have a ‘Bee and Bee Plant’ Mix – http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/shop/product.html?product_id=1305&foldrequest=more&-session=shopper:42F947E407fc62109APNFF979729 which will fill your garden with a great mixture of Wild Marjoram, Sweet Violet, Pasque Flower, Small Scabious, Devilsbit Scabious, Sheepsbit Scabious, Clustered Bellflower, Bats in the Belfry, Giant Bellflower and Toadflax. Sunflowers are also great for bees. Good luck!
22 Jun 2010 at 08:51
Could not make the bee day, unfortunately.
Strange thing happened yesterday. A honey bee swarm attached to the trunk of my young cherry tree on the grass verge outside my house. I was thrilled to see them but had to go out before I could contemplate the best thing to do. A neighbour promptly organised for it to be taken away by unknown-to-me bee collectors when I had gone out…
I have a question. The few that are left eating the sap in the cuts that have appeared in the bark I suppose made by the swarm, will they die now the queen is gone?
Is there anything can be done for the few left to help them? or is this just what happens when collecting a swarm – that there are stragglers with nowhere to go?
Sadly, my neighbour is very mistrustful of them.
Thank you for some insight.
Also, was it the bees that made these cuts in the bark and should I patch them up somehow for the tree’s health? Thank you.
24 Jun 2010 at 11:23
Hi Sarah… We’ll ask Steve and get back to you as soon as possible.
24 Jun 2010 at 16:08
Hi Sarah,
Steve says to give him a call – his number is 07973 744 331 – and he’ll be able to answer your questions.
Good luck with it all! And well done for saving the bees!
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