To bee or not to bee, that is the question?

ubamother

ChocClare, I love the idea of your OH going off with a beekeeping friend and doing bee things together - that's really sweet.

For those worried about being in too urban an area, I'm told on fairly good authority that Fenwicks in Newcastle (for non locals, Fenwicks is like House of Fraser) have hives on their city centre flat roof. Apparently the bees are very happy and travel in a three mile area and collect pollen from local parks. What I thought was wonderful about the Fenwicks bees is that, because bees don't like crossing water (who knew?), they fly over the Tyne bridges - I have this image of bee commuters every morning!

Now my boy is old enough not to poke his fingers in something new (can't speak for OH though) this is one of the things I'm looking into - can't have chickens in my garden, but I'm pretty sure bees would be fine.

lostinrates

This is interesting. DH went on a course over winter and this will be his first season trying with bees. The only hiccup here with beekeeping association is all the meetings are weekday evenings, when DH is not about (presumably well timed to let people get on with gardening, beekeeping and family time at the weekends).

brownsauce

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/8064562.stm

when i read your post ubamother i just had to look it up! This is the most fantastic thing i have heard today!