Part of Sustainable Honey Bees CIC
The Sustainable Beekeeping Network is part of Sustainable Honey Bees CIC. The overall purpose of Sustainbale Honey Bees is to conserve, protect, and increase the population of our native UK Honey Bee (apis mellifera mellifera).
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Sustainable Honey Bees is based in the UK and currently operates in the south-west of England, Yorkshire, and throughout Wales. It works through opertaional units in Cornwall and South Yorkshire and its Wales Office is based in Carmarthenshire.
What is the Sustainable Beekeeping Network?
The Network is a group of like-minded beekeepers working together to develop solutions to the wide range of genetic, environmental, ecosusyems, and health challenges that face our honey bees. The Network is currently developing a range of projects and programmes which will start to be rolled out from 2025 onwards. It subscribes to these key principles:
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The bee colony is treated as a super-organism;
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The natural processes of the bees are respected;
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The heat, scent and humidity of the nest are maintained at all times;
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Intrusion into the colony is minimised;
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Bees are able to make their own comb;
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The bees’ own swarming impulse determines reproduction;
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Bees overwinter on their own honey;
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Bees are local and are adapted to local microclimates and environment;
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Colony density is appropriate to forage availability and maintenance of health.
The health and development of the colony is monitored through regular observation. Colony management is informed by the bees’ own needs. Interventions should be kept to a minimum, using three broad principles:
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Do not put anything into the hive which did not come from the bees;
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Do not take anything out of the hive which the bees cannot afford to lose;
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Be guided by the bees.