Show adds a sting in expanding knowledge of bee lovers

Experienced beekeepers interacted with the public and helped broaden the visitors’ knowledge of beekeeping.

The Eastern Highveld Beekeepers Association (EHBA) recently held its annual Bee Show at Hecker Nursery.

The 2018 bee show took place on October 13 and 14.

During the event, bee lovers had the opportunity to see the displayed beekeeping equipment and taste various types of honey products.

Bee-friendly flowers were also on display. The plants were carefully researched and selected by the team at Hecker Nursery, with some input from EHBA.

The aim was to encourage members of the community to provide much-needed forage for bees in urban areas.

The association’s Taryn Flee described the event as a huge success, saying they were happy to see community members coming in their numbers to support the show.

“The 83-year-old association lends support in all bee related things. It has since its inception grown and extended into various regions in Gauteng.

“The objective of its members has always been and will remain the preservation of bees and the skills used to keep and maintain bee populations,” said Flee.

Members of EHBA also offer local communities bee removal services at reasonable rates and are registered to organisations including the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries.

Challenges

Flee said beekeepers are presented with some serious challenges on a global scale, saying some of the challenges faced are parasites, lack of forage due to urban expansion, pesticides and toxins, diseases and colony collapse disorder.

“Our local beekeepers are struggling with winter forage as Blue Gum and Eucalyptus trees are being eradicated in South Africa as an invasive alien species.

“These trees sustained bees during winter when blossoms and flowers are scarce. Not all the species of these trees must be removed however due to misinformation they are swiftly being cut down.

Community Assistance

The association calls on members of the public to become informed about bees. Join or attend meetings at their local associations, plant bee-friendly plants in your gardens so that bees will have forage especially during the winter months and hold your supermarkets and stores accountable for the products that they sell and endorse.

Those interested in beekeeping are invited to visit the association at Hecker Nursery or contact them via Facebook at www.facebook.com/EHBeekeepers/