Bees play an essential part in the life cycle of many floras. For example the pollination of fruit trees and bushes and vegetables. There has been a decline in the numbers of honey and bumblebees over recent years.
The planting of a Parish orchard led the Sustainability Project members to consider introducing honeybees into the area. Only one hive is known to exist at the moment. The Parish of Clapham, Newby and Keasdon covers around 10,000 acres and varies in landscape from the heather moor lands of the Forest of Bowland (Keasdon) to the mountainous slopes of Ingleborough. Resting in between are the villages of Clapham and Newby. Whilst the area is relatively large compared with Clapham Village the influx of many honeybees could create real competition for the Bumblebee. Consequently the introduction of honeybees should be gradual monitoring the impact they have on the bumblebee population. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Wild Life Conservation Officer has offered support with this task. Bumblebee boxes as recommended by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust will be placed in appropriate positions. Also recommended are homemade bumblebee nests; designs provided by the Trust.
Aims
1. To increase the chances of fruit tree and bush pollination within the Orchard Project.
2. To aid the pollination of other flora within the local area.
3. To aid the rejuvenation of the Honey Bee population.
4. To monitor the plight of the Bumble Bee population and to aid its survival and hopeful rejuvenation.
5. For the Project to be sustainable in the long term.
To achieve this we have set out to do the following
1. To form a Bee Keepers group in the Clapham Parish members of which will undergo training by a local Bee Keepers Association trainer. The training will be sufficient to enable the group to practice bee keeping with the help of experienced mentors. Training to take place March to May 2010.
2. To purchase ten hives, eight of which will be placed within the Parish over two to three years. Two hives will remain empty ready to receive a new swarm of bees should they become available. The hives will need assembling. This will be done as a group exercise, affording an opportunity to learn something of hive construction prior to training.
3. Members working in pairs will manage the Bees; at least two hives per pair. Each pair will have an experienced mentor for support.
4. It is hoped that the sale of honey will off-set future costs, making the project sustainable in the long term.
